Shropshire Star

Telford's lowest earners facing council tax increase

The lowest earners in Telford are to be asked to pay more council tax – as the local authority's finance chief admitted he was "uncomfortable" with some of the cuts he was having to make to balance the books.

Published

Under the current arrangements, families and people on low incomes who qualify for the council tax support scheme are asked to pay 21 per cent towards their total bill.

But under new proposals put forward, that figure will increase to 25 per cent.

It equates to an extra £31 every 12 months, and will help the council save around £250,000 per year as it battles to make cuts of up to £50 million over the next four years.

But Councillor Lee Carter, cabinet member for finance at Telford & Wrekin Council, said it was not something he wanted to do.

"Actually we have reached a point now where we are having to make these changes," he said.

"We have to make these changes to ensure that we balance the books at the council.

"The government have got us all roads to be honest.

"They say we must balance our books, therefore we are reaching a stage where we are having to make some really hard decisions, and some tough decisions that will impact the community.

"What we are trying to do desperately is protect the most vulnerable in our community

"We are perhaps a bit uncomfortable with some of the things that we are having to do and understand the impact on local communities.

"We are very mindful of that.

"There are a number of people who are protected by law, or through our choice, from these increases, so the most vulnerable, pensioners for instance, we have protected, people with disabilities are protected.

"But we have to make some changes to this.

"They are not massively palatable to us in fact we baulk at some of these things.

"I appreciate absolutely that small increase will mean a lot to some people.

"We have got a hardship fund which we can use to help and support those families who are in need.

"We will make sure all of the families affected will receive direct contact through the council to see if there are ways we can assist to minimise the impact of these changes."

People can have their say on the proposed changes at www.telford.gov.uk/counciltaxsupport.

The consultation will run until November 1.

Councillor Carter said if the council did not cut the cost of its council tax support scheme it would need to make deeper cuts to services such as those for vulnerable adults and children.

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