Local Council Tax Support

Greg Clark Excerpts

Monday 11th April 2016 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Greg Clark)]

On 2 December 2015 the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Marcus Jones) announced the appointment of Eric Ollerenshaw OBE to lead an independent review into local council tax support schemes.

The review was charged with meeting the requirements set out in the Local Government Finance Act 2012, to look at whether the schemes are efficient, effective, fair and transparent.

The review follows the reform of council tax benefit to give councils the power to design their own schemes according to their local needs. It has looked at how this change has been implemented, what it has meant for local areas, and whether it should be part of the universal credit payments in the future.

The review has now concluded and its final report has been submitted to me. The independent report recognises the successful implementation of LCTS schemes by local government.

I have placed a copy in the House Library.

[HCWS667]