Council tax cuts for South Hams' vulnerable?

Councillors plan to target help

People on the lowest incomes in the South Hams could see their council tax bills cut. 

Residents are being asked for their thoughts on whether the current council tax reduction scheme, which cuts bills by up to 85 per cent, should be changed next year. 

The scheme takes into account where people live, their income, how many people live in their home and how many children they have. 

But South Hams District Council (SHDC) says changes need to be made because of the cost of living crisis.

For example, at present a couple would be eligible for a 50 per cent reduction in council tax if they have a combined monthly income between £650 and £867. Proposed changes would mean they would be able to earn between £780 and £1,040 and still be be eligible for the same discount whereas previously they may only have had a 25 per cent cut. 

Conservative Councillor for Woolwell and executive member for the cost of living Nicky Hopwood said: “This is a banded or graded scheme, which means the lower your income, the more pressures your household has, the greater the reduction you get.

“What we wanted to do with these proposals, was to recognise that some households needed to be able to earn more money and still get their council tax reduction.

“At the lower end of the scheme, the reduction is already very generous.  With these proposals, we wanted to provide a bit more support to those households in other parts of the scheme who do not already get as much support.

“I think that these proposals accurately reflect the squeeze that many households are feeling right now.”

A consultation on the proposed changes will run until Sunday 27 November with residents able to give feedback through an online questionnaire.  

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CTAXreductionsurveySHDC