Agenda item

The Committee considered the report of the Transactional Finance Manager and the Business Manager – Revenues & Benefits which sought to provide Members with information and options for supporting terminally ill residents by providing council tax support through discretionary measures. 

The report set out that Full Council had unanimously supported a Motion to develop an appropriate policy for Council Tax Exemption for those with a terminal illness, or a partner or family member within the same household, as part of the local tax reduction scheme.  Following this decision, Officers had developed four options for Members to consider, which were detailed within the report, with their recommendation being that Option 3 was the most appropriate scheme for the Council to adopt.  In presenting the report, the Transactional Finance Manager advised that a letter had been forwarded to the Rt Hon Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, urging him to consider the implementation of a national policy to provide council tax exemption to all residents diagnosed with a terminal illness or those council tax paying residents who reside with a person so diagnosed.

In considering the report, a Member commented that his preference would be to develop Option 1 but acknowledged that in order to do so it would require an agreement being reached with Nottinghamshire County Council, the Nottinghamshire Police & Crime Commissioner and the Nottinghamshire & City of Nottingham Fire Authority to reduce the precept they received from council tax demands.  In response, Members were advised that an approach could be made but it would delay the commencement of the scheme recommended in Option 3. 

Members agreed that the priority was to commence the scheme as soon as possible with a view to expanding it in the future.  The Transactional Finance Manager advised that, subject to Cabinet’s approval on 20 January 2026, the proposed scheme could be commenced on 1 April 2026 and then subsequent conversations with the other organisations could be held. 

A referring to the current Council Tax Relief (CTR) Scheme, a Member noted that a terminal diagnosis may result in a person becoming eligible for that scheme and queried as to the speed with which their application would be processed.  The Transactional Finance Manager referred to the SR1 form which was a medical report used for fast-tracking benefits claims for people who were terminally ill and expected to live for less than 12 months.  He advised that the intention was to have the NHS submit the form to both the DWP and the Council.  The Council would put in place measures to expedite such claims. 

AGREED     that the Policy & Performance Improvement Committee endorse and recommend to Cabinet:

a)           that approval be given to the preferred Option 3 as detailed in the report;

b)          that Officers be instructed to develop a Discretionary Council Tax Relief Scheme to support households facing the hardship of living with a terminally ill family member; and

c)           that, subject to approval by Cabinet of Recommendations a) and b), Officers be authorised to approach Nottinghamshire County Council, the Nottinghamshire Police & Crime Commissioner and the Nottinghamshire & City of Nottingham Fire Authority in relation to expanding Option 3 - the Discretionary Council Tax Relief Scheme.