Comment on Council Tax changes

Have your say on our Council Tax support scheme

Release date: 24 September 2018

Each year the Council has to decide whether to make changes to the administration of its council tax support scheme for working age people on a low income in the Cotswolds.  This year we are consulting on possible changes to the scheme from 1 April 2019 which would completely exempt our poorest residents from Council Tax payments. In other words, the maximum amount of Council Tax discount will now be100%.

Changes being proposed include:

  • Introducing a banded scheme which would see a simple flat rate percentage discount awarded, depending on a person’s total weekly ‘net’ income
  • For the purposes of calculating weekly income, the Council would ignore all child maintenance payments

Changes proposed will have no impact for those in vulnerable groups or those in receipt of a state pension.

Comment on changes to our Council Tax payments

https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/news/september-2018/have-your-say-on-our-council-tax-support-scheme/The deadline for comments is midnight on Friday 9 November. 

Since 2013/14 the funding received from central government to support the local working age scheme has continued to reduce in line with other central funding cuts and is expected to continue to reduce over the coming year.

The Council Tax Reduction Scheme was introduced in April 2013, replacing Council Tax benefits and is part of the Government’s major overhaul of the welfare system. 

Following this round of consultation, CDC councillors will consider a report before deciding on any changes to the current scheme.

ENDS