2024 Consultations

COUNCIL TAX REDUCTION

Proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme

Support with Council Tax payments through the Welsh Government’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme (‘the scheme’) is an important part of welfare support for households on low incomes. The scheme, which is administered locally by councils, has historically had low take-up from potentially eligible residents and the number of households receiving a Council Tax reduction continues to fall. 

This technical consultation proposes a number of changes to the scheme to make it easier to access and simpler to administer. Nothing in this consultation places new restrictions on existing eligibility for the scheme. 

The consultation can be found at Proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme | GOV.WALES

Closing date for responses is 6 June 2024.


DEBT RECOVERY

Consultation on MaPS proposals for the delivery of its debt advice strategy

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) is now consulting on its proposals for the delivery of its debt advice strategy.

The consultation sets out MaPS' approach to debt advice up to 2028. It explores how they interpret their remit in relation to debt advice and the role that they could take in working with the wider debt sector on some of the key issues and challenges identified.

The consultation can be found at https://maps.org.uk/en/publications/consultations-and-responses/2024/consultation-on-MaPS-proposals-for-delivery-of-debt-advice-strategy#

The closing date for responses is 3rd April 2024.


ENFORCEMENT

Consultation on ECB’s draft 2024/25 Business Plan

ECB’s draft Business Plan for 2024/25 is now open for consultation and they want to hear from you on it.

Please read it and the accompanying document and send your comments and views to contact@enforcementconductboard.org indicating whether you would like your response to remain confidential and/or unattributable. Otherwise, they will assume that you are content for your response to be published.

This consultation paper introduces the Enforcement Conduct Board’s (ECB) draft business plan for 2024/25. The 2024/25 business plan is the second of their full business plans. A draft is presented in Annex A to this consultation, which sets out their key strategic priorities and planned deliverables for the year ahead.

The consultation can be found at https://enforcementconductboard.org/our-work/#businessplan

Closing date for responses is 4 April 2024 at 5pm.


LAND TRANSACTION TAX

Land Transaction Tax Higher Residential Rates: Proposals to Amend the Refund and Exception Rules

The Minister for Finance and Local Government intends to put before the Senedd a proposal to change land transaction tax rules to allow homebuyers, in specified difficult circumstances, extensions to the current 3-year periods.

The proposal will be put before the Senedd once the responses to this consultation have been considered.

The consultation can be found at https://www.gov.wales/land-transaction-tax-higher-residential-rates-proposals-to-amend-the-refund-and-exception-rules.

 The closing date for responses is 17 March 2024.


LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE

Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill Consultation

Senedd Cymru’s Local Government and Housing Committee released a consultation scrutinising the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill.

Specifically, the Bill scrutinised:

  • The general principles of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill and whether there is a need for legislation to deliver the Bill’s stated policy objectives (see the Bill page for further details).
  • Any potential barriers to the implementation of the Bill’s provisions, and whether the Bill and accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment take adequate account of them.
  • Whether there are any unintended consequences arising from the Bill.
  • The Welsh Government’s assessment of the financial and other impacts of the Bill as set out in Part 2 of the Explanatory Memorandum.
  • The appropriateness of the powers in the Bill for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation (as set out in Part 1: Chapter 5 of the Explanatory Memorandum).
  • Matters relating to the competence of the Senedd including compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights.
  • The balance between the information contained on the face of the Bill and what is left to subordinate legislation.
  • Any matter related to the quality of the legislation.
  • Any other matter related to the constitutional or other implications of the Bill.

The consultation could be found at: Consultation display (senedd.wales) 

The deadline for response was 15th January 2024. The IRRV response is at IRRV_Response_LGFBill_150123.pdf

On 15th March 2025, the Local Government and Housing Committee’s Stage 1 report on the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill was published: https://www.irrv.net/documents/weblinks/2024/3/LGF%20Bill%20Stage%201%20report%20(en).pdf

Having considered the evidence presented on the broad range of provisions in this Bill, it was concluded that, on balance, and taken in its entirety, they support its general principles. However, it is evident that there are a number of areas on which further consideration by the Welsh Government is necessary. This report details their consideration of each of the provisions within the Bill and their subsequent recommendations, which seek to make the improvements they believe are needed to strengthen this legislation.