Issue - meetings

Consideration of recommendations of Cabinet in respect of the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

Due to the timescales and print deadlines, the recommendations of the meeting of Cabinet held on 10 February 2026 will be circulated to Members in advance of the meeting of Council

A report providing the proposed Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council Working Age Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2026/27, requesting Cabinet Members to approve and recommend the updated Scheme to Full Council.

Consideration was given to the Draft Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2026/27 (attached at Annex 1 to the report) which had been revised to bring it in line with statutory prescribed requirements from Government national benefit rates.  The scheme had also been uplifted in line with new rates of National Living Wage (NLW), where NLW was used as a factor in calculating income discount bands.  

Members noted that for pension age households the separate Government Scheme prescribed maximum help to 100% of council tax liability, a minimum requirement of a pension age scheme.

In recognition that the Borough Council’s Local Council  Tax Reduction Scheme provided essential support to residents who were on a low income and, where applicable, provided a reduction based on the personal circumstances of each applicant, Cllr Boughton proposed, Cllr Keers seconded and Cabinet

*RECOMMENDED: That the draft Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2026/27 (attached at Annex 1) be commended to Council for adoption.

*Recommended to Council