Council Tax Support Scheme consultation launches

A seven-week consultation launches today (Friday 15 November 2024) to review the current Council Tax Support scheme (CTS) after North Somerset Council agreed this week to proceed with a public consultation.

The CTS scheme helps 11,400 North Somerset households on low incomes to pay their Council Tax, of which approximately 6,000 are working age. Under the current scheme, a working-age household liable for Council Tax could get up to 75.5% of the charge paid through the scheme.

The Council is considering a new, simplified version of the CTS scheme, which would primarily impact working-age residents (typically between 16 and 66) who claim this support.

It's proposed to review and redesign the CTS alongside all areas of North Somerset Council spend as the council generates plans to balance its budget.

As part of this consultation, the Council has developed two options for the future of the CTS scheme and is seeking feedback from residents on both.

To take part in the consultation and learn more about the two options, please visit Proposed changes to North Somerset Council's Council Tax Support Scheme - North Somerset Council Consultations. The consultation is open until Friday 3rd January 2025.

The Council is also looking to review the amount of savings a claimant has before receiving CTS, simplify non-dependant deductions, restrict CTS to a council tax band D level and create a simplified income scheme, where income is assessed exclusively on the basis of earnings.

Cllr Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council said: "We remain committed to supporting North Somerset's most vulnerable residents and providing the financial help they need whilst ensuring the scheme remains affordable for North Somerset. Our CTS offer costs the authority over £12m to deliver. We are currently reviewing all our spend in a bid to balance our books after years of national funding cuts and increases in demand for our services. We'd like to invite everyone to take part in the consultation and have their say on the proposed redesign of our CTS. No decisions have been made and the outcome of this consultation will help us review how the scheme could be redesigned to meet the needs of residents, streamline the costs of the service while also aligning with other local authority schemes."

Cllr Jenna Ho Marris, Executive Member with responsibility for equalities at North Somerset Council added: "We take our duties to our most vulnerable residents very seriously, including those on low incomes. I encourage all residents, Town and Parish Councils, and members of voluntary and community organisations to tell us - frankly and at this early stage - what these changes will mean in reality to residents' lives."

The council is committed to ensuring everyone can participate in this consultation. Materials are available in large print, easy-read, and other formats upon request. Please email [email protected] for an accessible version.

The views of the public along with key stakeholders will inform a final decision at a Full Council meeting on 18 February 2025. If approved, the implementation of the redesigned CTS is proposed to take place from 1 April 2025.