Agenda

Copies of the records of the previous decisions taken at Cabinet on 22 September and the special meeting held on 12 October 2016 are attached.

RECOMMENDED that the records of the decisions taken at the Cabinet meetings of 22 September and 12 October 2016 are approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

i)             Mental Health Champion

The Leader is nominating Cllr Jennie Brent to fulfil this role.

ii)            Milton Village Community Centre - change in representative

Cllr Luke Stubbs is to step down from this outside body and a ward councillor is to be appointed.   The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group has nominated Cllr Ben Dowling to fill this vacancy.

iii)           Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust (Council of Governors)

The Leader proposes that Cllr Luke Stubbs fills this vacancy. This role is to be undertaken by a member or officer from Portsmouth City Council.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet confirm these appointments.

The Director of Regulatory Services & Community Safety's response report is attached as well as the report by the Traffic, Environment & Community Safety Scrutiny Panel (TECS) Panel which was signed off on 28 September 2016, chaired by Councillor Stuart Potter.

Please note that the TECS Scrutiny Panel report appendices 4 'Dual Diagnosis Pledge' and 5 'The Portsmouth Blueprint' are available to view with the full TECS scrutiny panel's review report of 28 September on the PCC website, democracy pages at:

http://democracy.portsmouth.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=177&MId=3567&Ver=4

RECOMMENDED:

(1)  That the Panel is thanked for its work in undertaking the review

(2)  That the Transport, Environment and Community Safety Scrutiny Panel's recommendations be approved in line with the responses noted in section 4.

The purpose of the report by the Director of Community & Communication is for Council to approve for implementation on 1st April 2017 Portsmouth City Council’s revised scheme for Council Tax Support and an associated Hardship Fund.

N.B. The verbatim comments made during the consultation (Appendix 1a Free Comments) can be viewed on the Portsmouth City Council website by using this link:

https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/documents-external/cou-cts-consultation-appendix1a-verbatim.pdf

RECOMMENDED to Council:

i.          The results of the public consultation on the Council Tax Scheme are noted.

ii.         To implement a revised Council Tax Support Scheme for Portsmouth from 1st April 2017, with the following key features:

a)        To introduce a maximum level of support for all working age applicants to 80%

b)        To reduce the capital limit from the existing £16,000 to £6,000

c)        To restrict the maximum level of Council Tax Reduction payable to the equivalent of a Band C

d)        To set a minimum level of support at £2 per week

e)        To bring the working age Council Tax Scheme in line with Housing Benefit changes proposed by Central Government

iii.        A Hardship Fund of £250k to be provided for 2017/18, subject to annual review, to give support to households in financial difficulty due to a reduction in the Council Tax Support they receive.