Our response to the Fairer Council Tax consultation

We responded to the Scottish government and COSLA's consultation on Fairer Council Tax. 

Summary

Local authorities play a key role in delivery of services that low-income households rely on, and have a key role to play in tackling child poverty. We support increases to bands E,F,G and H  as they will provide further resources to local authorities. However, low-income households, who don’t get council tax reduction will lose out. To ensure the additional burden does not fall on those least able to afford it, these changes must be accompanied by immediate changes to the council tax reduction scheme, and a commitment to reform local taxation.

Our recommendations include

• Expand eligibility for council tax reduction to support more low-income families.
• Impose a legal duty on local authorities to treat a claim for universal credit as a claim for council tax reduction.
• Use data from applications for Scottish Welfare Fund and other benefits administered by local authorities to identify families who will be entitled to council tax reduction and assist them to claim.
• Allow greater backdating of council tax reduction.
• Amend regulations to ensure all council tax reduction claimants receive a decision notice.
• Amend regulations to allow time for requesting a review to be extended.
• Reduce water and sewerage charges for people entitled to council tax reduction.