Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) presented the Cabinet recommendation on the revised Council Tax Support Scheme (Cabinet minute 91 referred).

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Penberthy (Cabinet Member for Co-operatives and Community Development).

The City Council was advised that there was a typographical error in the Cabinet recommendation to Council and that the reduction should be from 25 per cent to 20 per cent, not from 20 to 25 per cent.

Councillor Lowry, in summing up, undertook to share the figures relating to the calculation of the cost of the liability orders with Councillor Nicholson.  He also shared Councillor Penberthy’s sadness that attachment of earnings could not be made on a voluntary basis and that the local authority had to apply for them to be made through the courts, with the associated costs.  He welcomed any efforts made to lobby Members of Parliament to change this process.

Following a vote, it was Agreed to approve that the 2013/14 Council Tax Support Scheme continues for the 2014/15 financial year and that all elements of the scheme remain the same except the requirement for minimum contribution for all working age residents reducing from 25 per cent to 20 per cent.

(Councillors Darcy and Nicholson declared private interests in the above item).