Issue - meetings

(a) That Cabinet authorise with respect to the discretion allowed by reforms to Council Tax legislation detailed within the Local Government Finance Act 2012 for charges in respect of second homes, former Class A exemptions and the Empty Homes Premium, alteration be made to existing arrangements to maximise income.

(b) That Cabinet authorise with respect to the discretion allowed by reforms to Council Tax legislation detailed within the Local Government Finance Act 2012 for charges in respect of Class C exemptions, that a 100% discount be introduced for the first 56 days and thereafter this is reduced to 0%.

Cabinet received a report to enable Members to consider the Technical Reforms to Council Tax Support. The Local Government Finance Act 2012 would introduce certain changes with regard to the operation of Council Tax in England. Some of the changes were to be applied generally across the scheme but others would allow individual authorities to apply discretion around how they would be applied in their own area.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Budget Management advised that the changes would provide an additional £81,000 of income for Newcastle Borough Council whilst affecting a minimum number of council tax payers.

The majority of the money would go to the major precepting bodies for the area including Staffordshire County Council and the Fire Service. Discussions were taking place as to how the money could be respent in Newcastle Borough.

RESOLVED:                          (a) That Cabinet authorise with respect to the discretion allowed by reforms to Council Tax legislation detailed within the Local Government Finance Act 2012 for charges in respect of second homes, former Class A exemptions and the Empty Homes Premium, alteration be made to existing arrangements to maximise income.

(b) That Cabinet authorise with respect to the discretion allowed by reforms to Council Tax legislation detailed within the Local Government Finance Act 2012 for charges in respect of Class C exemptions, that a 100% discount be introduced for the first 56 days and thereafter this is reduced to 0%.