Telford council tax plans draw hundreds to website
Hundreds of people have looked at plans that could see those on low incomes in Telford & Wrekin paying more council tax next year.
Almost 500 people have logged on to Telford & Wrekin Council’s Facebook page in the last 24 hours after it was revealed up to 10,000 people receiving Council Tax benefit in the borough could have an increased bill from April.
The council says it will be £3.1 million a year worse off when the Government abolishes a key tax benefit and is now consulting on how it should plug the gap.
It is suggesting that people currently entitled to Council Tax benefit will have to help make up the difference.
A Telford & Wrekin Council spokesman said: “We have already had a lot of interest in the consultation, which is perhaps not surprising as this does affect a lot of people.
“The post on our Facebook page was viewed 150 times in the first 26 minutes and we’ve already taken a number of phone calls.
“We are obviously delighted that people are engaging in the consultation and giving us their feedback and we would encourage everyone with an interest to continue to do so, as their views will be vital in helping us make the right choices about the scheme we finally implement.”
Visit www.telford.gov.uk/counciltaxsupport for more details.
Comments for: "Telford council tax plans draw hundreds to website"
Mr Whistleblower
The problem Telford has is that it has a massive 'benefits' class' and with that comes lots of people who don't pay anything in to the 'pot'. Housing benefit should be cut not just council tax benefit. It can't keep on taxing the middle class to pay for this layer of people who cripple public services.
Mark
Housing Benefit has been cut and is to continue being cut. Restrictions on the maximum allowable for single applicants has been increased from those aged under 25 only to those aged under 35.
Local Housing Allowance (Housing Benefit) was previously worked out on a "mean" average of rents but is now based on an actual average. Restrictions have been applied to large families, and further restrictions are on their way in cases of under occupancy.
So the cuts have not just been applied to Council Tax Benefit, and more is to come.
Simon Parton
Percentage-wise I doubt very much if Telford has any more or less of the "benefits class" than any other town.
Peter
The vast majority of housing benefit is not paid to people who are out of work - it's paid to the working poor. The problem with our economy in Shropshire (Telford, Shrewsbury and other towns) is that a large (and increasing) proportion of the jobs are at the minimum wage. People paid that little often don't contribute much, if anything, to the tax pot (quite rightly), and are entitled to 'top-up' benefits to allow them enough to live on.
Often the employers paying these very low wages are large, and highly profitable companies, who take every opportunity (and there are plenty afforded to them) to avoid paying tax on their very healthy profit, much of which is spirited away offshore. How often do we see stories in the Shropshire Star about jobs created here or there, only for it to become clear that these are minimum wage jobs, which contribute little to the economy.
Don't get me wrong - there's much to be said for the dignity of work for the individual, as opposed to the gloom of enforced idleness, but we shouldn't resent those on low pay for their benefits - instead we should resent the profiteers whose wealth we all subsidise.
council taxpayer
Due to Labour mismanagement the current gvt is reducing grant by 10%. Our Labour councillors are reducing benefits by 20% where is the extra going to?
Ed
Pensioners will be protected from the cuts so the cuts will fall on working age claimants only hence 20% cuts
keith barrow
what do i care if you have a flat or a house you have to pay