Home » Councillors and How the Council Works > Issue

Issue details

RULE 4 - Covid-19 Council Tax Hardship relief

 

 

Following the outbreak of Covid 19 and the advice of the UK Government on self-isolation and the temporary closure of Businesses and places of work, the Government have made available a £500m Hardship fund for Local Authorities, with the expectation that this will primarily be used  to provide council tax relief under section 13A (1) (c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

The Government has provided guidance on the minimum requirements which this additional fund should address and have stated that residual funds from each authority’s allocation may be used to deliver increased financial assistance though other local funding mechanisms.

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Significant Financial Impact and Affects more than 1 ward;

Decision status: Approved

Notice of proposed decision first published: 27/04/2020

This decision will be taken under urgency procedures.

Reason for urgency:
This decision is to be made under part 4C-Rule 4 of the council’s constitution as an urgent decision. This matter is urgent because residents of Bath and North East Somerset have a current and ongoing liability to pay council tax and many are suffering from financial hardship caused by the economic impacts of the stay at home measures introduced to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The introduction of this relief will immediately reduce the financial burden of paying council tax for several thousand residents of working age in receipt of council tax support during 2020/21. In many cases it will reduce the amount to pay to nil. It is undesirable to prolong the hardship faced by residents and the council must therefore expedite the decision to enable reductions in council tax liability to take effect as soon as possible.

Decision Type: Key Decision;

Decision due: 27 Apr 2020 by Cabinet Member for Resources.

Lead director: Director Finance - Section 151 Officer

Contact: Damien Peak, Welfare Support Manager Email: Damien_Peak@bathnes.gov.uk.

EFP Reference: E3206

Decisions

Documents