Sefton Council is running a month long consultation to gauge views on a revised Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2016/17.
As part of the Council’s consideration of its 2016/17 and future years’ budgets, it must consider a range of service reductions and pressures upon local communities.
One of the options Sefton will be considering as part of the scheme review, is whether to change the level of Council Tax support to those working-age households across the borough on the lowest of incomes.
It is hoped by making Council Tax more affordable, it will help alleviate some of the financial difficulties being faced by residents on very low incomes, which in turn will reduce collection and recovery costs.
Any decision to increase the level of support provided to low income households will need to be viewed in the context of the need to make budget savings of more than £27m in 2016/17 as a result of Government funding cuts.
The proposed changes will not affect customers who have reached their state pension age who continue to have their Council Tax Reduction calculated on rules set by the Government.
At the moment there are more than 14,990 working age residents in the borough who are affected by the scheme and Sefton Council welcomes any views on the proposals.
The consultation runs for 4 weeks from November 23 until December 20 and to get involved visit www.sefton.gov.uk/counciltaxconsultation
Cllr Paulette Lappin, Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services, said: “We want to ensure that anyone who has an interest in this proposed revision of the scheme has an opportunity to have their say.
“Your views and the information provided will be analysed and will then form part of a report when we have to make a decision on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2016/17.
“This affects thousands of people in the borough so please take the time to have your say.”
Approval of the 2016/17 Council Tax Reduction Scheme will be made in the New Year.
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