Updates from NKDC Councillor Sally Tarry
2024 Annual Canvass for the Electoral Register.
The NKDC elections team are continuing to carry out the 2024 Annual Canvass to keep the district Elections Register up to date. Between 10th October and 15th November Electoral Register Canvassers will be visiting those properties for which a response to the annual household canvass form has not yet been received. They will carry ID but if the resident is unsure at all they should contact the Council. The canvass identifies any residents who are not registered so they can be encouraged to do so and to remove any electors who no longer live at an address.
Council Tax Support Scheme Consultation
The Council's Revenues and Benefits team is currently looking at the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2025-26. However, before any decision is made on the final scheme a consultation is open for residents and any other person/organisation who might have an interest in the scheme.
The consultation period starts on 7th October 2024 and ends on 18th November 2024.
A decision about the final scheme will be made by Councillors in January 2025 and as soon as possible after this date, full details will be published on NKDC's website.
Council Tax Support is awarded to approximately 2704 pensioner households and 2705 working age households, which equates to about 8.9% of the total households in the North Kesteven area (figures as at 30th June 2024).
Pensioners are not affected by these proposals; it is for working age households only.
The consultation considers whether to continue with the current scheme of annual up-ratings or to move to a banded scheme which would see customers placed into one of several bands based on their income.
The Council want to make it easier for people to receive what they should, to understand what they are getting and what Council Tax they must pay. Council Tax Support is separate from Universal Credit and as such must be claimed from the Council. By linking this more closely to Universal Credit most claims information will come directly from the DWP. In these cases, it is hoped that claims can be processed without claimants having to provide the same information twice.
These changes are not being considered in order to reduce the amount of Council Tax Support people get. The aim is to make it simpler for claimants and more efficient for the council to administer. As with changes to any scheme, there may be some individual variations in current levels of support, but the overall cost to the council is expected to remain approximately consistent.
For more information and to take part in the consultation please click on the link below.
https://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/