Further to minute 40 (04.10.2021), the Cabinet was provided with the results of the public consultation process on the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2022-2023 together with an equality impact assessment.

The consultation took place between 22 October and 24 December 2021 (9 weeks).

The Council consulted with major precepting bodies prior to the public consultation who were supportive of the way forward and the options being considered for public consultation.

The consultation document went online on 22 October 2021. It was recognised that access to computers, smartphones and the internet combined with the potential for respondents to lack digital skills could affect the ability of some claimants and residents providing a response. Consequently, the service wrote to all 6,477 CTR claimants together with a randomly sampled 5,000 residents (non-claimants).

Customer Services and Revenues & Benefits officers were briefed to promote the consultation, encourage responses from residents and to assist them where they needed assistance in completing the consultation document. The Council also worked with the Communications Team to ensure that there was an effective campaign across the Council’s social media channels.

In total, 537 responses were received which was a good response rate considering the length of the document and compared to previous consultations. The previous consultation on the CTR scheme for 2017/2018 saw 387 responses i.e. latest consultation had seen a 39 per cent increase. This also compared favourably with other local authorities such as Ashford Borough Council who received 88 responses and Dartford Borough Council who received 35 responses to similar consultations.

The number of results allowed for a high degree of confidence that the Council had a representative and balanced view from residents. The key indicators being: -

·         99.45% of respondents living in Gravesham;

·         79.12% of respondents in receipt of council tax reduction;

·         33.52% of respondents (or their partner) in work or self-employed; and

·         88.33% of respondents liable to pay council tax.

The results of the consultation also showed an improvement on the representation of specific ethnic groups when compared to the previous consultation in 2017.

Members were informed of the following headline results: -

·         whilst in answering Question 2, 41.47% of respondents wished to retain the current council tax scheme (23.75% said no with 34.78% stating they did not know) this changed significantly once the respondents considered the Income Grid scheme under Question 4 which then saw 57.20% agreeing with its introduction (11.52% stated no with remaining 31.28% stating they did not know); and

·         all 9 proposed changes saw the majority saying they agreed with the proposed changes: -

o   those in agreement for each proposed change ranged from 57.14% to 82.84%;

o   disagreement with each proposal was in the range of 3.92% to 12.07%; and

o   “don’t know” response with each proposal was in the range of 13.24% to 31.28%.

The Head of Revenues and Benefits informed Members that an Equality Impact Assessment had been completed based on the results of the consultation and was attached at appendix 4 of the report for Members’ information. It was recognised that there will be a risk to claimants finding themselves with lower CTR. In order to mitigate this risk, financial support funds will be used. The service will proactively work to identify those cases which will be adversely affected due to the proposed changes. Those cases will be identified by utilising the Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) platform.

Members were informed that the Government had initially provided funding for the scheme in 2013 however the funding had been reduced each year in line with the reduction in Revenue Support Grant provided to Councils. The aim for the 2022-23 scheme will be to remain cost neutral when compared to the current estimate expenditure of £6,904,000 for the 2021-2022 scheme. Gravesham Borough Council will bear 11% or £760,000 of this cost with the remainder incurred by major preceptors i.e., Kent County Council, Kent Police & Crime Commissioner and Kent Fire and Rescue authority.

The Cabinet commended the response rate and fully supported the use of the Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) platform to proactively identify those cases that will be adversely affected.

Resolved that the proposed scheme be recommended to Full Council to take effect from 1 April 2022.