Issue - meetings

[Report of the Director of Finance.  To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation]

This report seeks approval to publicly consult on the options to improve the customer experience and administration of CTRS

The Cabinet Member for Customer Service, Welfare and the Public Realm introduced the report which summarised the process and content of proposed potential changes to the administration and policy of the Haringey Council Tax Reduction Scheme to be introduced in 2022/2023. The report also set out a series of options to amend the current scheme, with a preferred option recommended, and the timescales for consultation processes to be undertaken should any changes be sought.  The proposed changes would simplify Council Tax documents and make the process more transparent. 

The Cabinet Member responded to questions from Councillor Barnes:

-           The service had been reviewing letters sent out to residents and were looking to take on board a range of languages to translate documents into.  A suggestion was to include a small box at the top of every letter with a short, translated summary in the five most commonly spoken languages in the Borough, with an offer of a full translation of the letter.

RESOLVED that Cabinet

1.         Agree to consult on the following changes to the existing Council Tax Reduction Scheme:

i)          Simplifying the claims process by adding a new channel for residents on Universal Credit to claim council tax reduction automatically as set out in paragraph 4.3.1

ii)         Stabilising entitlement for residents by simplifying what happens when a resident’s income changes by a small amount during the financial year as set out in paragraph 4.3.2  

iii)        Simplifying the scheme by changing the way that council tax support can be backdated to allow more time for residents to claimas set out in paragraph 4.3.3

iv)        Simplifying the scheme through improved transparency by publishing a revised statement of the scheme written in plain English as set out in paragraph 6.17

2.         Note that, following consultation with the Greater London Authority (“GLA”) and having considered the GLA’s response:

i)          A draft CTRS will be published;

ii)         A consultation on that draft CTRS will be carried out with persons likely to have an interest in its operation; and

iii)        The findings of the consultation and an Equalities Impact Assessment will inform the final CTRS, which will be put to members to consider at full Council in December 2021.

3.         Note that care leavers are especially vulnerable to debt and the Council will review and improve the communication of the existing relief scheme and review, simplify, and improve the claim process and its administration.

Reasons for decision

The Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) is a way the Council can redistribute the financial burden on Council Taxpayers and provide additional support to those in need.

It is important that the CTRS is simple and easy to claim to maximise uptake and reduce the burden on our residents. A scheme that is easy to access can help residents to minimise debt, assist household budgeting, and increase the ability to pay council tax. 

The proposed amendments to the rules for working age claimants would have the following benefits:

Simplifying the claims process. The proposed change is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 587