The Cabinet resolved that:
1) it be acknowledged that the 10% reduction in Government grant should not be met by either cuts elsewhere in the Council's budget or by an increase in the basic amount of council tax;
2) in principle, the anticipated 10% reduction in Government grant towards the cost of council tax support should be reflected in an overall 18.5% reduction in the support available to non-protected claimants of localised council tax support;
3) in principle, subject to clarification from the Government, there should be a reduction in the discount available to owners of vacant and unoccupied properties (Class C);
4) in principle, the Council should enter into a Kent-wide agreement, as outlined in the report, as to the principles underlying the local scheme that the Council intends to adopt and the Director of Finance be authorised to progress the drawing up of such an agreement;
5) taking into account the further refinements being considered, on a Kent-wide basis, as a means of reducing the 18.5% reduction for non-pensioner claimants to 15%, further consideration be given to taking that route;
6) in exploring the route referred to in (5) above, it be agreed in principle that the 10% discount granted to owners of long-term empty properties and properties classed as second homes should be reviewed;
7) although not immediately relevant to the funding of a local scheme for the Tonbridge and Malling area it be agreed, taking into account the contents of Annex 4 to the report, that:
i) in principle, the discount available to owners of properties falling within exemption Class A should be reviewed; and
ii) in principle, consideration should be given to the adoption of a premium in respect of properties that have been empty for longer than two years;
8) authority be delegated to the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Leader, the Cabinet Member for Finance and the Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group, to progress the local scheme to public consultation unless they consider it should be referred to a special Cabinet meeting; and
9) no response be made to the sole question in the DCLG's consultation paper.

Reasons: As set out in the detailed supplementary report of the Director of Finance.