1 PRESENT Andrina Collymore (Chair), Falhado ... - Hounslow Homes

• that the Council Tax collection rate was 57% and was on target for
the year and performance for Business rates collection was 60%.
• that performance for the Call Centre and front line staff had improved
further.
• that Council Tax support would replace council tax benefit from April
2013. The initial consultation exercise was completed and the results
were being evaluated however Central Government had offered more
funding if the increase to working age council tax was not more than
8.5%. Following the presentation of a briefing paper, Members agreed
to take the additional funding and a further consultation exercise has
begun for 2 weeks (12/12/12 to 23/12/12).
• the Government, under its ‘technical reforms for Council Tax,’ has
proposed to allow Local Authorities to charge full Council Tax on
second homes and to abolish class A (structural) and class C
(unfurnished void properties for over 6 months). A paper has been
written on the basis that the Government will allow Local Authorities
to set a discount of between 0% - 100% and has been submitted to
members for consideration.
• that once the LBH Cabinet agreed the discount for the second home
it would be fixed.
• In relation to the benefit cap, all information had been received by
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and forwarded to the
various housing providers to enable them to work with those affected
by the benefit cap.
• in relation to under and over occupation in social housing – the
Council’s system provider has completed the IT work and work to
upload the information onto I World computer system has
commenced.
• with effect from 1 April 2013, the funding currently spent on the two
elements of the Social Fund (community care grants and crisis loans
for living expenses) will be transferred from the DWP to Local
Authorities.
• the abolishment of the Council Tax Benefit, the Government also
announced proposals to make changes to discounts and exemptions
allowed on the council tax liability, this included a charge up to 100%
council tax on second homes, vacant dwellings, replacement of
discretionary discount, abolishment of class L exemption, mortgagees
in possession of empty dwellings, an empty homes premium,
extension of the statutory instalment scheme, review of separate
contained units (also referred to as granny flats). These proposed
changes were also part of the consultation document.
Points noted by members:
Ms Salvat asked what happened to the tenancy if a person opted to
transfer from their property. It was noted that a secure tenancy would
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