'Shameful' change to council tax support scheme 'will push Central Beds families further into poverty'

Levels of support would be reduced incrementally, depending on household income, under the changes planned by the minority Independent ruling group on Central Bedfordshire Council.

The cost of providing this financial help is £14m, which is rising as demand increases, a budget full council meeting was told.

Under the current local council tax support scheme, 9,371 households receive support and 7,141 of these receive 100 per cent support.

Executive member for finance and Independent Aspley and Woburn councillor John Baker said: “The government has gifted us a £17m hole in our budget this year through fairer funding.

“There are more than 7,200 working age households claiming 100 per cent discount on their council tax, That’s an increase of 36 per cent in just three years.

“With the scheme now costing £14m a year in lost income to the local authority, it’s not sustainable to do nothing. So 100 per cent support will be replaced by an 81 per cent relief for those claiming a single person discount, that’s half of claimants.

“The other half receive a 75 per cent reduction, as there are two or more incomes into that household. A scrutiny recommendation was to use the £2.3m crisis resilience fund to help anyone adversely impacted by this change, on the basis of individual assessment.”

Liberal Democrat Leighton Linslade South councillor Shaun Roberts referred to his mother having to rely on benefits in the past when left with three children, saying: “My mum would have considered this a massive kick in the teeth.

“To say ‘we can’t afford to do this any longer’ isn’t a solution. The very poorest households locally earning less than £200 a week income are to be asked to pay £400 to £500 a year more. That’s five times more than anyone else.

“I think it’s shameful. It takes food off tables, heat out of homes and pushes people deeper into poverty. We won’t be part of that and I hope other groups will say the same.”

Councillor Roberts proposed an amendment asking for the change in the scheme for band one households to be phased in over two years.

“We believe this change will ease the transition for our poorest residents and that it would be beneficial to the council in terms of collection rates,” it read.

Independent Leighton Linslade West councillor Victoria Harvey explained: “On this budget, you probably will be unable to afford to ever have a coffee with anyone or ever do anything social.

“The people receiving 100 per cent (discount) are living on the breadline. These families having to pay an extra £330 or £500 a year will be really struggling.

“This could be the difference between food, new shoes or a computer to do their homework. It could have disastrous effects, as well as being a bureaucratic nightmare.”

Labour Dunstable North councillor Matt Brennan labelled the changes “an ideological attack on the poor and disabled in Central Bedfordshire”, warning: “I have to support the Lib Dem amendment, although it’s still a horrible choice.

“That’s an attempt to destroy people’s lives slightly more slowly, as opposed to all in one go.”

Independent Flitwick councillor Gareth Mackey denied people were being cast adrift by the changes, adding: “There’s still a 75 per cent discount.

“We need to make ends meet somehow. Unfortunately, this is the way we must do it in the worst times.”

The amendment was defeated with 26 votes against, 21 in favour and eight abstentions. Councillors approved the changes with 33 votes in favour, 21 against and one abstention.