Issue - meetings

The Executive Councillor (Governance & Corporate Services) submitted reports (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider proposed changes to the Council Constitution arising from the changes to the Council Tax Discount Scheme agreed at the Council Meeting on 20 December 2012.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to adopt the proposed amendments to the Council Constitution’s Scheme of Delegation for the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services in relation to applications for Council Tax discounts, as detailed in the report.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services.

The report details proposals to amend the Constitution to delegate powers to determine applications for local Council Tax discounts in the light of changes being introduced in April 2013 to replace Council Tax Benefit with Council Tax Support.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment upon the proposals to amend ‘PR3 Scheme of Delegation’ - General Delegation to all Directors, to the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services of the Constitution be revised as detailed in this report.

Officer contact: Alison Blount on 474 5107 or email alison.blount@stockport.gov.uk

(NOTE: The Chair was of the opinion that this item, although not included on the agenda, should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 in order that the amendment to the Constitution could be approved by the Council Meeting prior to the introduction of Council Tax Support in April 2013.)

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals to amend the Constitution to delegate powers to determine applications for local Council Tax discounts in the light of changes being introduced in April 2013 to replace Council Tax Benefit with Council Tax Support.

It was reported that the Constitution Working Party on 23 January 2013 had recommended that ‘PR3 Scheme of Delegation’ - General Delegation to all Directors be amended as follows:

“7. To be responsible for the collection and recovery of all Council Tax, National Non-Domestic Rates, residual Community Charge monies, and Housing Rents, and to determine applications for discretionary non-domestic rate relief and Council Tax discounts in accordance with the policy adopted by the Executive.”

RESOLVED – That the recommendation of the Constitution Working Party be endorsed.