Change to council tax benefits (From Romsey Advertiser)

Change to council tax benefits

9:10am Wednesday 5th September 2012 in News

THOUSANDS of people in the Test Valley who currently have their council tax paid for them will have to pay at least part of the bill from next April.

Peter Giddings, Test Valley Borough Council’s economic portfolio holder, said: “The Government’s proposed changes to the council tax benefit scheme and the reduction in funding available for this scheme, will most likely result in all working-age residents who currently receive council tax benefit, having to pay something towards their council tax bill.

“I welcome the Government’s decision that pensioners must be protected from the impacts of these changes, but in order to maintain the level of funding to them, it is necessary to take additional measures to generate revenue and also to encourage empty homes back onto the market.”

Under the Government’s localism policies it is being left to local councils to decide how they make good a funding shortfall.

Next April council tax benefit — which is 100 per cent funded by central Government currently — is being replaced by council tax support, which will only be 88 per cent funded by central Government.

Across Test Valley that means a £70,000 shortfall in funding, and this is expected to be made good by charging 3,100 people for 10 per cent of their council tax liability.