Tamworth Borough Council is inviting borough residents to have their say on new proposals for the local council tax reduction scheme.
Every council has their own local scheme to reduce council tax for people of working age on low incomes. Tamworth Borough Council is proposing a number of changes to the existing scheme and have opened a public consultation for people to have their say.
The proposed changes seek to:
- make the scheme easier to understand and access,
- provide up to 100% support for households on the lowest incomes,
- make the scheme work better with the Universal Credit system,
- support families and those who receive a disability benefit,
- take away the need for constant changes in awards, and
- make the scheme easier to manage internally.
These proposals reduce the amount of council tax collected by Tamworth Borough Council and the other precept authorities in a bid to increase support to the most vulnerable individuals and families in the borough.
The proposals only cover those of working age; there are no changes for pension age applicants as they are part of a national scheme.
Councillor Thomas Jay, Deputy Leader of the Council and cabinet portfolio holder for Operations and Finance said: “In these proposals we’re actively seeking to increase financial support for the most vulnerable people living in our borough.
“We feel we must do all we can to support those in desperate need. By prioritising and supporting those most impacted by the current cost of living crisis and seeking to make our local council tax reduction scheme easier for everyone, we hope to improve the lives of many local people eligible for this benefit.”
The council is legally required to consult on any proposed changes to the scheme and are asking locals to take part in this consultation to understand views on the proposed new approach, which would start from 1 April 2024.