3 August 2012
Press release number: PR1862
Residents can have their say on what option
they would prefer for a new localised scheme for Council Tax
Support.
Councils need to develop their own local schemes.
Within the 2010 spending review the Government announced it
would replace Council Tax Benefit with localised support for
Council Tax from April 2013, and transfer responsibility to
Local Councils. Each Council now needs to develop its
own local scheme for April 2013.
The Government will be giving grants to Local Authorities, based
on previous year's amount spend on Council Tax Benefit less 10
per cent. In Redbridge, £23 million was spent in 2011/12,
which means that for 2013/14 a saving of £2.3 million must be
made.
This saving can be made in various ways:
- reductions in the level of financial support available for
those on a low income, or
- an increase in Council Tax for everyone, or
- further cuts in services by reducing spending, or
- some combination of these
It is very important that we gather as many views from residents
as possible, so please tell us your preferred option by completing
the on-line consultation.
More details and
information on Consultation Information drop in
sessions.
The consultation period runs to 26 August
2012.
