Council’s Cabinet to consider consultation on Council Tax Support changes

The scheme supports residents on benefits or low incomes with Council Tax payments. 

The meeting will take place on Tuesday 3 September at Hounslow House.

The consultation – that aims to go live in September - will invite residents and other interested parties to have their say on proposals to make the current support scheme fairer and could result in some residents paying more council tax, and some paying less.

The proposals keep a focus on ensuring families and larger households receive the vital support they need. Pensioners will not be affected by the proposed changes. 

If the consultation is approved, it will run until November with planned changes discussed at the Council’s February Cabinet Meeting. If approved, the proposals will come into effect in April 2025. 

As well as creating a fairer scheme where funding is targeted to those who need it most, the proposed reform will help address the Council’s current £30 million funding shortfall. That shortfall, a ‘recurrent budget gap’ in recent financial years includes around £19m on the Council Tax Support scheme in 2024/25.

Increases in costs, increases in demands - especially in Social Care - and historic reductions in Central Government funding, have all meant that further savings measures need to be taken to produce a balanced budget in 2025/26.The council remains fully committed to delivering a sustainable budget over the medium term. 

Watch the Cabinet Meeting live on Tuesday 3 September at 7pm.