The Isle of Wight Council is launching a consultation to consider whether the Local Council Tax Support scheme that supports Islanders should be amended.
The implications of changes to the scheme could affect both recipients of local council tax support as well as users of council services more widely and therefore will be open to all residents to participate.
There are more than 5,000 Isle of Wight residents on lower incomes who are presently in receipt of local council tax support.
The results of the consultation form part of the decision-making process for setting council tax and the overall council budget next year. The main options included in the consultation include:
- keeping the level of support as it is at 65%;
- increasing the top level of support from 65% to 70%;
- increasing the level of earnings disregard from £25 to £30 per week;
- reducing the amount of support offered to low-income groups.
Another new option in the consultation is to consider whether to decrease the non-dependant deduction from £2 to £1 a week. This would help claimants who have other adults living with them by over £50 a year.
Each of the options has a significant impact on the council budget. Higher levels of relief would require savings and cuts elsewhere. Lower levels of relief could lead to an increase in council tax arrears and lower levels of Council Tax collection.
Councillor Chris Jarman, Cabinet member for Strategic Finances said:
“Nearly 4% of Islanders presently receive Local Council Tax Support. The cost-of-living crisis is having a profound impact on residents on lower incomes. The forecast is for this to continue and indeed become more severe due to further rises in utility costs.
Article continues below this advertisement “The council needs to ensure that it has a balanced budget and to cover its statutory responsibilities, it must also be mindful of the impact of Council Tax on already stretched household budgets.
“It is important that all Islanders have the opportunity to comment on the options as we start to make difficult decisions about council finances for 2023-4.”
Any changes will relate to working-age residents only. Those of pension age will not be affected.
Simple solution, stop wasting our money on useless projects
Cost of living having profound impact on everyone !, keep the support and reduce council tax for everyone – we pay some of highest c/tax yet wasted on floating bridge, consultants, many managers,agency workers, Island Roads , 50plus pool cars parked county Hall etc. I wish I could just make things up and charge everyone..
Greedy council once again, some of the highest paid councillors in England are here on the island. Take a pay cut yourselves and stop pushing down the people that are doing real work, and not those of you in the council standing around talking about your next cruise. We all know which way this go, we will end up paying more.
Obvious outcome.
They wont help us, but will of course help themselves.
Another pointless “consultation” that the vast majority of the island will know nothing about. Whoever the council “consultation” officer is must make an absolute fortune.
They won’t take any notice about what we say anyway! Never have Never will! Pull up the ladder Jack I’m alright!
Unacceptable, to increase extortionate council tax. To bale out the few, who already get loads of different benefits. Funded by people who are also struggling , but get no help.
Expect our tax will go up, as one of our councillors priority is helping those who choose to not work. But happy to penalise anyone who foolishly pays there way.
A small proportion do well on benefits and take take whilst also making false claims for PIP or DLA for their kids,while also drug dealing etc, those that are honest and only get the basic of benefits do struggle like those on low wages. If you think some one claiming falsely you can report anonymously- Phone: Contact the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 4400. Your call is free and confidential you do not have to give your name or address. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Like the way they say an adult could be better off by £50 a year! as much as some spend on a meal and bottle of wine in one Night,these councilors and Conservative’s don’t know what poor is.
Do you know that 40% of your council tax goes into their pension fund.
Scrap local government, centrally fund it and just employ people to manage local services.
Taken from an article last year in island echo ” Raising the issue of the local council tax support scheme at the cabinet meeting on Monday, Councillor Andrew Garratt said the erosion of the help was ‘utterly scandalous’, calling for the cuts to be reversed. The scheme allows those on lower incomes a reduction in the amount of council tax they pay.”
https://www.islandecho.co.uk/council-questioned-over-commitment-to-tackle-islands-poverty/
Up to 75% off to help the unemployed scroungers who breed like rabbits. Nothing for single workers.
link to consultation https://www.iow.gov.uk/consultations/