Issue details
Receipt and spend of grant for the Council Tax Energy Rebate 2022-23
Subject of Decision:
(a) The receiving of a central government grant for
£4,591,650 under the Council Tax Energy Rebate scheme with
the consequential increase in the Council’s budget by that
amount; and
(b) The approval and the distribution of the discretionary element
of £140,400 referred to in (a) in accordance with the
attached ‘Council Tax Energy Rebate Discretionary Policy
Document’ and the delegation to the Council’s section
151 officer/Director of Financial Resources as set out in that
policy.
Decisions (a) and (b) permitted by paragraph 4 of the Budget and
Policy Framework Rules contained within chapter 7 of the
Constitution which allows the Chief Executive or the Executive to
make a decision not in accordance with approved budget where it is
not practical to convene a quorate meeting of Council and the Chair
of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee agrees that the matter is
urgent.
Background Information:
1. The Government announced a package of support known as the
Energy Bills Rebate to help households with rising energy bills.
This includes:
• A £150 non-repayable rebate for households in council
tax bands A to D, known as the Council Tax Rebate.
• A share of £144 million of discretionary funding for
billing authorities to support households who are in need but are
not eligible for the Council Tax Rebate, known as the Discretionary
Fund.
2. Copeland received £4,591,650 in April 22. This is
apportioned as follows:
• £4,451,250 to support those in council tax bands A-D
with a £ 150 payment (core scheme)
• £140,400 discretionary fund
3. For the purpose of the Council Tax Rebate, a household is a
person or a group of persons occupying a single dwelling, as
defined in section 3 of the Local Government Finance Act
1992.
4. Eligibility is determined based on the position at the end of
the day on 1 April 2022.
5. Payments should be provided directly from billing authorities to
eligible households. Only one £150 payment should be made
under the core Council Tax Rebate per household, regardless of the
number of occupants or liable council taxpayers.
7. Where a council holds live direct debit instructions for a
liable council taxpayer of an eligible household, automatic
payments should be made as early as possible in the 2022-23
financial year.
8. Where a council does not hold live direct debit instructions for
an eligible household, the government expects councils to contact
households to invite them to make a claim. In order to retrieve the
bank details, a secure online portal will be available from May
22.
10. All payments must be made by 30 September 2022 for the core
scheme and 30 November 2022 for the discretionary scheme.
11. The Council Tax team is currently testing the software received
to deliver the energy rebate payments and validating the data for
those entitled to a payment. Payments to council taxpayers will
commence from 13th May.
Discretionary Scheme
12. The government recognises that councils will want to support
other council taxpayers who are not eligible under the core scheme,
or to provide targeted top-up payments to those most vulnerable
households in bands A-D.
11. Councils can determine locally how best to make use of the fund
to support those suffering hardship as a result of the rising cost
of living. A copy of Copeland Borough Council’s proposed
discretionary scheme is attached.
13. The Guidance issued to local authorities is available via a
link in the attached document.
Decision on Urgency:
Households are suffering as a result of the rising cost of living
and any support needs to be provided quickly.
In view of the above I agree that the decision is urgent.
Authorised by email dated 16th May 2022 from Councillor John Kane,
Chair, Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Reasons for the Decision:
It is necessary to deliver the Government’s response to the
rising cost of living.
Others Consulted:
Section 151 Officer: The distribution of the relief and financial
implications are set out in this Officer Decision Record.
Monitoring Officer: The discretionary element of the central
government grant will be distributed in accordance with the
attached policy.
Nicola Hartley 13/5/2022
Mayor's Approval:
I agree with the distribution of the relief as set out above and
the attached policy document.
Authorised by email dated 16th May 2022 from Mike Starkie, Elected
Mayor.
Approval:
I agree, and make the decisions as set out above to receive the
grant and the distribution of it in accordance with the attached
policy document.
Authorised by email dated 17th May 2022 from Pat Graham, Chief
Executive.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure > £50,000;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 20/05/2022
Decision due: 17 May 2022 by Chief Executive
Contact: Pat Graham, Chief Executive Email: pat.graham@copeland.gov.uk.
Decisions
Background papers
