Decision details

The confidential report of the Director of Customer and Advice Services.was presented by the Deputy Executive Leader and Executive Member (Resources). 

The purpose of the report was to summarise some forthcoming changes to Housing Benefit and the welfare system.  The report also outlined options for Chorley’s Council Tax Support scheme and considered a change to the Local Discount and Exemption scheme for Council Tax. 

Decision:

1.         Approval granted that the CTS scheme remain unchanged for 2016/17.

2.         Approval granted for consultation in 2016 to align the Council’s CTS scheme with changes to Housing Benefit legislation effective April 2017.

3.         Approval granted for consultation with interested parties on an increase to the Council Tax Empty Homes premium to 50% effective April 2016. 

Reasons for recommendation(s)

1.         A close alignment of Housing Benefit and the local CTS scheme for administration purposes is operationally efficient and consistent.

2.         To make the various changes to the scheme together from April 2017 would be the most prudent approach.

3.         The change to the empty property premium will support the policy decisions to encourage the occupation of empty properties.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

1.         The CTS scheme could be amended from April 2016 to remove the Family Premium in the calculation in line with changes for the Housing Benefit Scheme.

2.         This option has been rejected because there are other changes that need to be made to the scheme from April 2017 and to align all of the changes in that year is the most prudent approach. It will also enable time to incorporate further government changes that may arise from the autumn statement.

3.         To leave the empty property premium unchanged would mean that the Council has not used all available measures to incentivise the return to use of long term empty properties.