Monday, January 07, 2013

Localisation of Council Tax Support, Rutland County Council

Tonight Rutland County Council meet for the first time this year.
Amongst the items it will be asked to consider is the new Council Tax Benefit Scheme.

Looking at the attached documents, It is looking like Rutland County Council will adopt the local
scheme set up in partnership with Leicestershire County Council.

The changes will effect everyone below a pensionable age.

People who work on low incomes may find they no longer receive benefit.

The Savings threshold is to drop from £16,000 to £10,000

If you're like me unemployed then, you will also have to pay.

No one will receive more than 75% benefit

There are special cases who can apply for support from a discretionary fund.

The list is quite long it includes drug abuser and people who have just come out of prison.


I was reading that a lot of councils have missed out, claiming extra business rates. I can't imagine
that any suggestion of increasing business rates would go down well with our council as many
are business owners.

As a person who is in receipt of JSA I expect to pay some where around £5 a week
it does not sound much, until you look at JSA and the cost of eating and running a home.

Tomorrow I am of to Leicester for the Work Program, I have not been to Intraining since June last
year, now that is how good the governments back to work program is in this area.

In the local press Tory Leader Roger Begy is moaning about central government funding cuts.
which amount to about what he and his cabinet draw in allowances and expenses.

It would be nice to think that our local councillor might consider taking a cut in allowances?

No: A report ahead of this week’s cabinet meeting suggests where achievable 
savings could be made in the next financial year, which includes measures such 
as introducing pool cars to reduce mileage claims, charging for tourism signs 
and axing a drug and alcohol programme for young people which is not well used.

Then I thought £130,000 for the chief executive, why do councils pay them more than the PM
I am no tax expert but I understand if you earn above a certain amount you lose most of that in
tax so surely wage cut to all the highest earners at Rutland County Council would help a great
deal.

Any why does the council car park hold so many leased pool cars? A question a member
of the public asked me the other week. It is interesting to read the council is considering even more.
Does that mean it will be reducing it huge Taxi and Private Car Hire bill?




Rutland County Council
Catmose, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6HP

Telephone 01572 722577 Facsimile 01572 758307

DX 28340 Oakham

Members of Rutland County Council District Council are hereby summoned to attend the TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTEENTH MEETING OF THE COUNCIL to be held in the Council Chamber at Catmose, Oakham on Monday 7 January 2013 commencing at 7.00pm.

Prior to the commencement of the meeting, the Chairman will offer the opportunity for those present to join him in prayers.

Helen Briggs
Chief Executive

A G E N D A

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

1)
CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

2)
ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE LEADER, MEMBERS OF THE CABINET OR THE HEAD OF PAID SERVICE

3)
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

4) MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
To confirm the Minutes of the 214th Meeting of the Rutland County Council District Council held on 12 November 2012 (Minute Numbers 458 to 476).

5) PETITIONS, DEPUTATIONS AND QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
To receive any petitions, deputations or questions received from members of the public in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 28. The total time allowed for this is 30 minutes. Petitions, deputations and questions will be dealt with in the order in which they are received and any which are not considered within the time limit shall receive a written response after the meeting.

6) QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
To receive any questions submitted from Members of the Council in accordance
with the provisions of Procedure Rule 30.

7) REFERRAL OF COMMITTEE DECISIONS TO THE COUNCIL
To determine matters where a decision taken by a Committee has been referred
to the Council in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 110.

8) CALL-IN OF DECISIONS FROM CABINET MEETINGS DURING THE PERIOD
FROM 12 NOVEMBER 2012 TO 3 JANUARY 2013 (INCLUSIVE)
To determine matters where a decision taken by the Cabinet has been referred
to Council by the call-in procedure of Scrutiny Panels, as a result of the decision
being deemed to be outside the Council’s policy framework by the Monitoring
Officer or not wholly in accordance with the budget by the Section 151 Officer, in
accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rules 206 and 207.

9) REPORT FROM THE CABINET – Page 4
To receive Report No 4/2013 from the Cabinet on recommendations referred to
the Council for confirmation at its meetings held on 20 November 2012 and 4
December 2012.

NB: Appendix B, Report 4/2013 contains exempt information. Should
detailed discussion take place on Appendix B, Council may wish to
consider the exclusion of the public and press in accordance with Part 1,
Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

10) REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES OF THE COUNCIL
a. To receive reports from Committees on matters which require Council
approval because the Committee does not have the delegated authority to
act on the Council’s behalf.

b. To receive reports from Council Committees on any other matters and to
receive questions and answers on any of those reports.

11) REPORTS FROM SCRUTINY COMMISSION / SCRUTINY PANELS
To receive the reports from the Scrutiny Commission / Scrutiny Panels on any
matters and to receive questions and answers on any of those reports.

12) JOINT ARRANGEMENTS AND EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
To receive reports about and receive questions and answers on the business of
any joint arrangements or external organisations.

13)
NOTICES OF MOTIONS
To consider Notices of Motions submitted by Members of the Council in accordance with Procedure Rule 34 in the order in which they are recorded as having been received.

14) LOCALISATION OF COUNCIL TAX SUPPORT – Page 9
To receive Report No. 2/2013 from the Strategic Director for Resources.

15) AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION – Page 49
To receive Report No. 10/2013 from the Monitoring Officer.

16) ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS
To receive items of urgent business which have been previously notified to the
person presiding.

---oOo---
TO: MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
Mr C A Parsons – Chairman of the Council
Mrs C Vernon – Vice-Chairman of the Council
Mr M E Baines
Mr B A Montgomery
Mr R B Begy OBE
Mr J R Munton
Mr K A Bool
Mr M A Oxley
Mrs C J Cartwright
Mr G Plews
Mr W J Cross
Mr M D A Pocock
Mr J T Dale
Mr D L Richardson
Mrs C Emmett
Mr B W Roper
Mrs J K Figgis
Mrs L I Stephenson
Mr R J Gale
Mr N M Wainwright
Mr D C Hollis
Miss G Waller
Mr T C King
Mr A S Walters
Mr J M Lammie
Mr M R Woodcock
---oOo---
THE COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC AIMS
Creating a safer community
Creating an active and enriched community
Creating a brighter future for all
Meeting the health and wellbeing needs of the community
Creating a sustained environment
Building our infrastructure