Consultation on proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme Your name:

Whilst supportive of the proposal that a council may treat an ‘intention to claim’ in the Department for Work and Pensions Universal Credit Data Share as an automatic application for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, we would urge the Welsh Government to ensure that there is collaboration between the team leading on this proposal and the team leading on the broader work on establishing a Welsh Ben. [...] This work is likely to place extra pressure on local authority resources in the short term and it is important to ensure that the approach adopted via proposal 1 of this consultation fits in with the broader approach taken through that work. [...] First, as we have noted already in our response, it is vital that the work that is being undertaken by the Welsh Government on CTRS is joined up with the Welsh Government’s work on establishing a Welsh Benefits System. [...] Fourth, the Welsh Government should review the generosity of the CTRS system in the round as a part of a broader review of the generosity of the grants and allowances under its control. [...] Welsh language impacts Question 6 What, in your opinion, would be the likely effects of the proposals on Council Tax reduction on the Welsh language? We are particularly interested in any likely effects on opportunities to use the Welsh language and on not treating the Welsh language less favourably than English.