You can suggest who should pay more council tax
Tuesday, 7th August 2012.
Some people are going to have to pay more council tax next year and the council are asking residents' views on who it should be.
The move comes following changes to the way discounts and benefit are funded.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council is conducting a survey to help decide where the costs of the new system should fall.
Currently the Government Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) funds all Council Tax Benefit, but it is to cut the amount by ten per cent from April 2013.
Councils now needs to decide their own local Council Tax Support scheme to set how much discount people will get.
The change in funding means some people will have to pay more Council Tax. The survey is asking people who should share this cost and to rank their choices in order of preference.
The options are: working age people who receive Council Tax support; owners of second homes pay; owners of empty homes; people who benefit from the Second Adult Rebate.
It is likely that there will need to be a mixture of the options, because some will not raise enough on their own.
But whatever the results of the survey show, people who currently receive Council Tax Benefit, are of working age and are available for work, will be likely to pay more.
Pensioners who are on low incomes will not be affected by the changes as the Government has said they are not able to work to support themselves.
The St Edmundsbury cabinet member responsible for resources, Cllr Dave Ray, said: “The Government is cutting the amount of money for benefits and discounts.
"We have considered other options, such as putting up Council Tax for everyone to meet the shortfall, but we know most people do not want us to do that.
"We could also cut the funding for other services, but that does not seem fair. It’s up to us to see that this burden is shared fairly among those who currently receive benefit or a discount and we welcome people’s views to help us decide exactly how we do this.”
Consultation forms and leaflets are being sent to thousands of people and organisations across the borough who currently receive a Council Tax discount, advise recipients or are involved in some way.
But the consultation is open online to every West Suffolk resident. The consultation form, explanatory leaflet and full details of the new scheme are available for Forest Heath residents on: www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/counciltaxsupport
These schemes will start from April 1, 2013.
The move comes following changes to the way discounts and benefit are funded.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council is conducting a survey to help decide where the costs of the new system should fall.
Currently the Government Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) funds all Council Tax Benefit, but it is to cut the amount by ten per cent from April 2013.
Councils now needs to decide their own local Council Tax Support scheme to set how much discount people will get.
The change in funding means some people will have to pay more Council Tax. The survey is asking people who should share this cost and to rank their choices in order of preference.
The options are: working age people who receive Council Tax support; owners of second homes pay; owners of empty homes; people who benefit from the Second Adult Rebate.
It is likely that there will need to be a mixture of the options, because some will not raise enough on their own.
But whatever the results of the survey show, people who currently receive Council Tax Benefit, are of working age and are available for work, will be likely to pay more.
Pensioners who are on low incomes will not be affected by the changes as the Government has said they are not able to work to support themselves.
The St Edmundsbury cabinet member responsible for resources, Cllr Dave Ray, said: “The Government is cutting the amount of money for benefits and discounts.
"We have considered other options, such as putting up Council Tax for everyone to meet the shortfall, but we know most people do not want us to do that.
"We could also cut the funding for other services, but that does not seem fair. It’s up to us to see that this burden is shared fairly among those who currently receive benefit or a discount and we welcome people’s views to help us decide exactly how we do this.”
Consultation forms and leaflets are being sent to thousands of people and organisations across the borough who currently receive a Council Tax discount, advise recipients or are involved in some way.
But the consultation is open online to every West Suffolk resident. The consultation form, explanatory leaflet and full details of the new scheme are available for Forest Heath residents on: www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/counciltaxsupport
These schemes will start from April 1, 2013.
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