Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
‘It’s punishing people who have been hammered enough’
City councillors are pressing ahead with a plan to slash council tax discounts for hard-up families – despite being warned they are hammering the poor.
It means that more than 5,400 low-income households across the district face having their bills doubled.
Among those opposed to the proposal is Northgate’s Labour councillor Alan Baldock, who argues it is yet another way the poorest are being saddled with extra costs.
And the Canterbury Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) also called for the city council to abandon its plans to reduce the maximum discount from 95% to 90%.
Simone Field, from the CAB, told members of the policy and resources committee that the service had witnessed a 35% increase in council tax inquiries.
“We are disappointed the council is going ahead with this idea,” she said. “It will have a real effect on some of the most deprived and vulnerable people in the district.
“Claimants’ income is reducing in real terms. These changes hit people in the Canterbury district especially hard as housing here is so unaffordable.
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“Council tax inquiries to us this year are 35% up on last year.”
The council wants to change the council tax discount it offers low-income families from 95% to 90% – effectively doubling their bills. Despite the reduction, Canterbury will remain the authority with the biggest discount in Kent. Most councils offer an 80% discount while in Medway the figure is 65%.
Cllr Baldock says that although the increase is small, it comes against the backdrop of rising living costs generally.
“This is just another one of the cuts we get,” he said. “Yes, it’s only £6 a month, but it comes on top of all the other pounds a week people are being asked to pay.
“It’s a cumulative effect and it’s punishing people who have been hammered enough.”
The council consulted on its plans over the summer and is acting in part to help find £2.2 million in savings because of decreasing government funding.
Cllr Stephen Bartley, of the authority’s majority Conservative group, is backing the discount reduction. He said: “I have every sympathy for people affected and I would certainly support greater liaison with the Citizens Advice Bureau on this. But this is not a decision we are taking lightly.”
Councillors must approve the changes by January 31 or the current reduction scheme will remain in place. The policy and resources committee voted 10-2, with one abstention, to recommend the full council introduces the new 10% rate.