Article 2 Amendment of the Local Authorities (Contracting Out of Tax Billing, Collection and Enforcement Functions) Order 1996

The Local Authorities (Contracting Out of Tax Billing, Collection and Enforcement Functions) Order 1996^f1 is amended as follows.

In article 2(1) (interpretation) after the definition of “authority” insert—

• ““council tax reduction scheme” means a scheme made in accordance with the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Prescribed Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2012^f2;

• “Default Scheme” means the scheme prescribed by the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Default Scheme) (Wales) Regulations 2012^f3;

• “the Detection of Fraud Regulations” means the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Detection of Fraud and Enforcement) (Wales) Regulations 2013^f4;”.

In article 3 (functions of local authorities) for “and the Regulations” substitute “, the Regulations, a council tax reduction scheme, the Default Scheme and the Detection of Fraud Regulations”.

In article 12 (ascertaining entitlement to discounts) for sub-paragraph (2)(a) substitute—

“(a)

take such steps as the contractor considers reasonable to ascertain whether that amount is subject to any discount and, if so, the amount of that discount;”.

After article 13 (ascertaining entitlement to reduced amounts) insert—

“Notification of decision on council tax reduction

13A.

An authority may authorise a contractor to exercise the function of giving notification of a decision under—

(a)

its council tax reduction scheme^f5;

(b)

paragraph 115 of the Default Scheme.

Payment of a reduction

13B.

An authority may authorise a contractor to exercise the function of determining whether a payment should be made and the function of making a payment under—

(a)

its council tax reduction scheme^f6;

(b)

paragraph 116 of the Default Scheme.”.

In article 19 (collection of penalties)—