Further to WQ89729, will the Minister clarify whether the provisions of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill as described in paragraph 8.192 of the Explanatory Memorandum will enable Welsh Ministers to allow councils to disapply or reduce the single person discount?
We have been absolutely clear there will be no changes to the existing council tax discount for households where there is only one liable adult.
The Bill includes a range of provisions which will give the Welsh Ministers greater flexibility to make changes to council tax discounts and disregards which better reflect the needs of Wales and to respond to changes in society and the economy in a timely way. This includes flexibility to introduce new discounts, for discounts to be set at levels other than 25% or 50% and for discounts to be better tailored to particular circumstances.
It also includes powers for the Welsh Ministers to allow local authorities to disapply or reduce discounts in certain circumstances. This preserves the effect of Section 12 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. The power will allow Welsh Ministers to prescribe by regulations classes of dwellings which a local authority may either disapply or reduce a discount.
Any proposals to make changes to council tax discounts in the future using the powers in the Bill would need to be consulted upon and any resulting regulations would be subject to scrutiny in the Senedd.