Discretionary Council Tax Rebate Policy

Name of policies to be assessed

Discretionary Council Tax Rebate Policy

1. What is the main purpose of the policies?

The main purpose of the policies is to:

• To implement the Council Tax Rebate Government Guidance in order to provide financial support to residents suffering financial hardship from increased energy costs and who are not eligible for the mandatory Council Tax Rebate Scheme.

2. What main areas or activities does the policies cover?

Payments of £150 in line with Government Guidance to those eligible.

3. Are there changes to an existing policy being considered in this assessment?

n/a

4. Who are the main audience, users or customers who will be affected by the policy?

The main groups who will be affected by the policy are:

• Residents liable for Council Tax in properties band E-H.

5. What outcomes does the Council want to achieve from the policy?

The fair distribution of the discretionary council tax rebate funding, to those in financial hardship and struggling to meet the increased energy costs.

6. Are other service areas or partner agencies involved in delivery?

This is a government scheme with a local discretionary policy.

7. Relevant information, data, surveys or consultations

n/a

8. The ‘general duty’

The ‘general duty’ states that we must have “due regard” to the need to:

1. eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
2. advance equality of opportunity between people who share a ‘protected characteristic²’ and those who do not³
3. foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not⁴

Not all policies help us to meet the ‘general duty’, but most do.

This policy helps us to meet the ‘general duty’ by:

• The policy will provide all residents suffering from financial hardship the opportunity to apply for financial assistance where they meet the basic eligibility criteria.
• The policy aims to target those most likely to be in need of financial assistance and will support them to meet on-going energy costs.

9. Disproportionate impacts

This section helps us to identify any disproportionate impacts. We will indicate whether the policy is likely to particularly benefit or disadvantage any of the 'protected characteristics'.

The Council Tax Rebate schemes will provide residents with much needed financial support, helping them to meet increasing energy costs in order to stay warm and well.

• Residents must be able to adequately heat their homes and have access to hot water and electricity. The recent increases in energy costs will create hardship for many households and this policy aims to support those most in need.

The following applies to all protected characteristic groups:

Age - older people (60+) and younger people (17-25)

Positive impact

Financial assistant will help people stay warm and well despite on-going energy price increases.

Age - those who are typically in the age group 45-55

Positive impact

Financial assistant will help people stay warm and well despite on-going energy price increases.

Disability – physical, sensory, learning, mental health issues, other

Positive impact

• The discretionary scheme is flexible and can provide those with a disability financial assistance if they are suffering financial hardship.
• Support will be provided for those unable to complete the online application form.

Ethnicity - White; Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups; Asian or Asian British; Black, Black British, Caribbean or African; Other ethnic group

Positive impact

Financial assistant will help people stay warm and well despite on-going energy price increases

Language – English not as a first language

Positive impact

Support will be provided for those unable to complete the online application form.

Pregnancy and maternity - Women who are pregnant or have given birth in the last 26 weeks

n/a

Religion or belief - People with a religious belief (or none)

n/a

Sex – Men and Women

n/a

Gender reassignment - Transgender/Transsexual

n/a

Sexual Orientation – Straight/Heterosexual, Gay or Lesbian, Bisexual, Other sexual orientation

n/a

Marriage and Civil Partnership - People who are married or in a civil partnership

n/a

10. How negative impacts be minimised or removed?

No areas of potential negative impact have been identified.

11. Could the policy discriminate⁵ against any ‘protected characteristic’ either directly or indirectly?

No

Summary and findings of Initial Equality Impact Assessment

12. Confirmation of findings

There are four options to describe the finding of the EqIA:

1. No negative impacts have been identified – Action is to sign off screening and finish.
2. Negative impacts have been identified but have been minimised or removed  - Action is to sign off screening and finish.
3. Negative impacts could not be minimised or removed – Action is to sign off screening and complete a full impact assessment – Section 2.
4. There is insufficient evidence to make a judgement - Action is to sign off screening and complete a full impact assessment – Section 2.

The findings and action are confirmed as (A). No negative impacts have been identified – Action is to sign off screening and finish

13. Name and job title of person completing this form

14. Date of completion

14  April 2022

15. Date for update or review of this screening

n/a this is a one off scheme

• [1] National Census 2021 ethnicity categories are: English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British; Irish; Gypsy or Irish Traveller; Roma; Any other White background (White); White and Black Caribbean; White and Black African; White and Asian; Any other Mixed or Multiple backgrounds (Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups); Indian; Pakistani; Bangladeshi; Chinese; Any Other Asian background (Asian or Asian British); Caribbean; African; Any other Black, Black British or Caribbean, Any other Black, Black British or Caribbean background (Black, Black British, Caribbean or African); Arab, Any other ethnic group (Other ethnic group).
• [2] The Equality Act’s `protected characteristics’ include age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sex and sexual orientation. It also covers marriage and civil partnerships, but not for all aspects of the duty. 
• [3] This involves having due regard, in particular, to the need to (a) remove or minimise disadvantages suffered by persons who share a protected characteristic that are connected to that characteristic; (b) take steps to meet the needs of persons who share a relevant protected characteristic that is different from the needs of persons who do not share it, and (c) encourage persons who share a relevant protected characteristic to participate in public life or in any other activity in which participation by such persons is disproportionately low.
• [4] This involves having due regard, in particular, to the need to (a) tackle prejudice, and (b) promote understanding.
• [5] The Council has a general duty to ‘eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation’. Direct discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favourably than another in a comparable situation because of their `protected characteristic’ whether on grounds of age, disability, pregnancy and maternity, ethnicity; religion or belief; sex (gender), sexual orientation, or marriage and civil partnership. Indirect discrimination occurs when an apparently neutral provision or practise would nevertheless disadvantage people on the grounds of their `protected characteristic’.