Decision details

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Digital, Sustainability & Resources, presented by the Cabinet Member for Citizen Services, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 10.

At the meeting of the Joint Strategic Committee held on 11 January 2022 it was determined that a public consultation should be undertaken by Worthing Borough Council with a view to removing the £5.00 weekly restriction from the scheme for working age customers with effect from 1 April 2023. 

At the meeting of the Worthing Borough Council Joint Strategic Sub-Committee held on 6 September 2022 refinement of the consultation questions was delegated to the Head of Revenues & Benefits in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Citizen Services.

The Council Tax Support scheme for pensioners was set nationally and Members therefore had no ability to determine local criteria.

The report detailed the consultation responses that had been received and recommended changes that could be made to the local working age Council Tax Support Scheme for Worthing Borough Council in respect of 2023/24.

The recommendations in the report were proposed by Councillor Taylor, seconded by Councillor Whorlow and unanimously supported.    

Decision

The Worthing Joint Strategic Sub-Committee noted the content of the report and recommended to the Full Council that with effect from 1 April 2023 the following changes should be made to the local Council Tax Support scheme for working age residents in Worthing:-

a)    The £5.00 weekly restriction will no longer apply;

b)    The discretionary budget to support those in severe financial difficulty will no longer be required as the result of the removal of the restriction;

c)    A valid claim for Council Tax Support shall be deemed to have been made by customers who have been awarded Universal Credit and indicated that they wish to claim Council Tax Support (unless further information is required to enable entitlement to be determined)

d)    No other changes should be made beyond necessary technical amendments required to keep the scheme consistent with the national rules in respect of Housing Benefit

Call-in

There is no call-in for recommendations to Worthing Full Council.