The purpose of the report is to recommend to Cabinet and seek approval for the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2022/23.  It will remain on the same basis as in 2021/22 but with the level of qualifying income updated for inflation as at the appropriate date.  This scheme will be reviewed in 2022/23 as part of Local Government Review integration work and a North Yorkshire wide scheme will be introduced from 1st April 2023.

In accepting the recommendations, Cabinet will approve and recommend to Council to continue with the current banded Local Council Tax Reduction scheme to protect households who have a low income at a time of high financial uncertainty; and approval of the levels of qualifying income set out in Table 1 within the report.

The subject of the decision:

This report sought approval of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2022/23.  It would remain on the same basis as in 2021/22 but with the level of qualifying income updated for inflation as at the appropriate date.  This scheme would be reviewed in 2022/23 as part of the Local Government Review integration work and a North Yorkshire wide scheme would be introduced from 1 April 2023.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

To comply with the requirements of the Local Government Finance Act.

The decision:

That Cabinet approves and recommends to Council:-

(1)     to continue with the current banded Local Council Tax Reduction scheme to protect households who have a low income at a time of high financial uncertainty; and

(2)     approve the levels of qualifying income set out in Table 1 within the report.