Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: December 11, 2024

Purpose: Cabinet is asked to consider the options for Council Tax Support (CTS) for 2025/26.   Cabinet is also asked to disregard income from war widows (widowers) pensions, war disablement pensions and income from the armed forces compensation scheme during housing benefit entitlement assessments.

Content: RESOLVED –   THAT having due regard to the obligations set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 and the Equalities Impact Assessment at Appendix C:   (i)              THAT the Council be recommended to agree that, from 1 April 2025, the current Council Tax Reduction Scheme is updated to reflect the new London Living Wage amount in our income bands as set out in Appendix B.   (ii)             THAT the Council be recommended to delegate authority to the Director of Finance to make changes to the approved scheme during 2025/26 to reflect any requirements set by Government to either the prescribed regulations for pensioners or the local working age scheme to ensure the scheme remains legally consistent and up to date as the legislation changes.   (iii)           THAT the Housing Benefit Service can continue to disregard all     income from War Widows (Widowers) pensions or War Disablement pensions, rather than just the first £10 of income when assessing entitlement to housing benefits be agreed.   (iv)           THAT the Housing Benefit Service can disregard all income from the ‘armed forces compensation scheme’ rather than just the first £10 of income when assessing entitlement to housing benefits be agreed.