This report seeks approval of the Council Tax Reduction scheme for 2018/19 from 1 April 2018.

In accepting the recommendation, Cabinet will approve and recommend to Council that the Local Council Tax Reduction scheme from 2018/19 be based on the current scheme which allows for alignment with the Housing Benefit legislative changes be adopted to take effect from 1 April 2018.

The subject of the decision:

This report sought consideration of whether to revise the Council Tax Reduction scheme or replace it with another.  Any revision or replacement needed to be made no later than 31 January in the financial year preceding that year for which the revision or replacement scheme was to be effective.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

For each financial year the billing authority was required to consider whether to revise its Council Tax Reduction scheme or replace it with another in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act.

THE DECISION:

That Cabinet approves and recommends to Council that the Local Council Tax Reduction scheme from 2018/19 be based on the current scheme which allows for alignment with the Housing Benefit legislative changes and that this be adopted to take effect from 1 April 2018.