Bath and North East Somerset Council has approved both revisions to the local Council Tax Support Scheme for people of working age at its meeting on November 10th, and the expansion of the Bath and Somer Valley Enterprise Zone, which it is hoped will link up the area’s economy to Bath and Bristol, encouraging more people to work locally and help investment in superfast broadband in the area.

The Council has approved the basis of the proposals to extend the zone, prior to further detailed discussions and a formal submission in December this year, which will now go to the Department for Communities and Local Government for determination. Larger areas identified included the Old Mills site in Paulton, the Welton, Bibby and Baron site, the Midsomer Enterprise Park and Bath Business Park in Peasedown St John, with smaller sites also proposed in the area.

B&NES Council is also reviewing its current Council Tax scheme, which was implemented in April 2013, when the Government ended the previous Council Tax Benefit scheme and passed responsibility for designing local Council Tax Support schemes to Local Authorities.

It has reviewed the current scheme and is proposing to make some changes from April 2017.

The new scheme, which the Council says is designed to be fair and easier to understand, will target more support at those on lowest incomes, increasing the maximum Council Tax discount from 78% to 90%. The changes will be introduced gradually, with current recipients only moving onto the new scheme when they transfer to Universal Credit or their financial circumstances change.

The revisions have been developed following consultation with local advice agencies and support organisations. The Council also wrote to the 5,500 people of working age across B&NES currently claiming Council Tax Support, asking for their views.

Features of the new scheme include:

• Residents currently receiving Council Tax Support will stay on the old scheme until they move on to Universal Credit. Their eligibility will be based on entitlement to Universal Credit.

• The maximum amount of support available is determined by income bands, and is available to all working-age claimants set at around 90% of the Council Tax bill.

• Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payments are not counted as part of an applicant’s household income when calculating entitlement to support.

• The housing cost element of Universal Credit is considered as income when calculating support.

• Self-employed applicants declaring unrealistic income are assessed at the national living wage income.

• People with capital/savings of over £6,000 won’t be eligible for Council Tax Support in line with the lower capital limit of Universal Credit, though this does not include the value of the property you are living in.

The revised scheme will not affect pensioners and is due to start from 1st April 2017.