Council Tax & Council Tax Benefit Consultation

Council Tax

This consultation is now closed.

The Council consulted on:

  • changes to Council Tax exemptions and discounts on empty properties
  • changes to Council Tax Benefit
  • how these changes will be funded.

Following consideration of the responses to the consultation, which included options for the change from Council Tax Benefit to a new Council Tax Reduction scheme and options in relation to Council Tax discounts and exemtions, the Council adopted the following:

  1. To abolish the 10% discount awarded in respect of second homes (furnished properties that are no ones main home);
     
  2. To introduce a discount of 100% for a period of up to twelve months following the abolition of exemption class A for ‘uninhabitable’ properties (properties where no one lives, are substantially unfurnished and require major repair work or are undergoing major repair work or structural alteration to render it habitable) which are currently awarded for up to twelve months;
     
  3. To introduce a discount of 100% for a period of up to one month following the abolition of exemption class C which relates to vacant properties (properties where no one lives which are substantially unfurnished) which currently can be awarded for up to six months;
     
  4. Abolish the 50% discount for properties that remain vacant (properties where no one lives which are substantially unfurnished). 
     
  5. Base the new local Council Tax Reduction scheme on the existing Council Tax Benefit scheme
     
  6. Increase income disregards for working age claimants so that single claimants have the first £10 of earned income disregarded and others have the first £25 of earned income disregarded
     
  7. Continue to disregard 100% of certain payments (for working age and pensioner age customers) made under the War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

     

These changes will take place with effect from 1 April 2013 and all Council Tax bills due to be issued in March will reflect these changes. Also, we are currently writing to all Council Tax payers who are in receipt of a discount or exemption listed in points 1, 3 or 4. above. Council Tax payers currently in receipt of the exemption listed at point 2 above will see no change in the amount of Council Tax payable.