Local Government Finance Bill

Insert the following new Clause—

“Council tax reduction schemes

(1) The Secretary of State shall make provision for an independent review of all council tax reduction schemes made under the provisions of this Act, to consider their effectiveness, efficiency, fairness and transparency and their impact on the localism agenda; and to make recommendations as to whether such schemes should be brought within universal credit.

(2) A review under subsection (1) shall take place within three years after this Act comes into effect.”

Insert the following new Clause—

“Power to make grants discretionary

(1) Section 11 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (discounts) is amended as follows.

(2) After subsection (5) insert—

“(6) Notwithstanding subsection (3) above, the billing authority shall have discretion to set the appropriate percentage at a rate between 20 and 25 per cent.

(7) In subsection (6) above, the discretion to set the appropriate percentage at a rate other than 25 per cent shall not be exercisable for pensioners.

(8) In subsection (7) above “pensioner” means a person who has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit.””

Insert the following new Clause—

“Guidance to authorities

The Secretary of State shall issue guidance to local authorities as to what persons or category of persons shall be deemed to be vulnerable for the purposes of ongoing council tax support.”

Page 5, line 32, at end insert—

“( ) No council tax reduction scheme shall, taking account of withdrawal of other benefits, have a taper which produces an overall withdrawal rate greater than that which would result from the application of the default scheme.”

Page 5, line 38, at end insert—

“( ) In exercising its powers under subsection (2)(a) and (b), the authority must have regard to the impact of the scheme on work incentives for those people in the area, including for those who are in employment or actively seeking employment.”

Page 10, line 18, after “or” insert “knowingly”

Page 10, line 22, after the first “or” insert “knowingly”

Page 23, line 18, at end insert “, and

(h) amounts received by the Secretary of State in the year under regulations under paragraph 42 (payments following estimates of amounts to be disregarded).”

Page 23, line 31, at end insert “, and

(f) payments made by the Secretary of State in the year under regulations under paragraph 42.”

Page 23, line 40, leave out “and (d)” and insert “, (d) and (h)”

Page 23, line 42, leave out “and (b)” and insert “, (b) and (f)”

Page 60, line 4, after “(2)(e)” insert “or (f)”

Page 60, line 45, after “(2)(e)” insert “or (f)”

Page 61, line 21, after “under” insert “or by virtue of”

Page 65, line 29, at end insert—

“( ) Such regulations must have regard to the possibility of authorities having to hold a further consultation as a result of the necessary alterations that must be made to their schemes in order to make a successful application to the transition grant.”