Bassetlaw: Households could pay more towards Council Tax

Bassetlaw Council is consulting over changes to a scheme which could see many households having to pay more towards their Council Tax.
Bassetlaw District Council, Potter Street, Worksop  (w120328-5b)Bassetlaw District Council, Potter Street, Worksop  (w120328-5b)
Bassetlaw District Council, Potter Street, Worksop (w120328-5b)

The local authority is asking for views on its Local Council Tax Reduction scheme for 2014/15 following the abolition of the national Council Tax Benefit system by the Government last April.

The government also reduced the national grant for Council Tax, which meant that people who had never paid Council Tax before had to start paying a portion of their 2013/14 bill.

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Most working families will have to pay a minimum of eight per cent of their Council Tax - around £85 for a band A property - after a 92 per cent cap was placed on the scheme in Bassetlaw for 2013/14.

With the government expecting council’s to continue to reduce their welfare spend and the possibility that a one off transitional grant will no longer be available for next year, the council is now consulting on what changes should be made to the Local Council Tax Reduction scheme for 2014/15.

The proposals include considering reducing the maximum entitlement for working age households to 88 per cent, which would mean that working households in Bassetlaw would pay a minimum of 12 per cent towards their Council Tax, around £125 per year.

Coun Sylvia May, cabinet member for support services, said residents views were ‘vital’ and urged people to take part.

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She added: “Last year we worked very hard to minimise the impact of the Government’s cuts on our most vulnerable residents and we delivered one of the lowest Council Tax Reduction schemes in the country. We are expecting further cuts in Government support and will try and deliver as fair and equitable scheme as possible.”

The consultation is taking place now and runs until Sunday 27th October.

It is available at www.bassetlaw.gov.uk or by calling 01909 533 710.