Decision details

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report for Committee to consider the Council’s Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) Scheme for 2024/25 and submit to Full Council for approval by 11 March 2024.

The report noted that the LCTS scheme had replaced Council Tax Benefit in 2013/14 and was now paid as a discount against an individual’s council tax bill rather than a benefit. The Government had replaced the subsidy with a grant payable to Councils for the cost of LCTS, however they had reduced the amount from 100% to 90% and councils had either to absorb the reduction or meet it from reductions in council tax or elsewhere from within the council tax system. The scheme was broadly similar to the old Council Tax Benefits scheme but with a 12% reduction in entitlement for claimants of working age.

Following a consultation exercise in 2021, a decision was taken to remove the 12% reduction in support, which had resulted in increased LCTS for approximately 1200 households, 600 of which paid no Council Tax in 2022/23.

As part of the budget setting process, Committee were asked to consider whether to continue with the current LCTS scheme or replace it with another, for determination by the meeting of the Full Council 5 March 2024.

Members were pleased to recommend the continuation of one of the most generous Council Tax Support Schemes in Lancashire, for approval by Full Council.

***RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Recommend the approval of the Council’s Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2024/25 to Full Council.