cOUNCIL tAX pUBLIC cONSULTATION
PRESS
RELEASE
2nd August 2012
Residents in the Melton Borough are being
urged to have their say on how Council Tax support should be
provided from the 1st April 2013.
Currently, central Government fully funds a
national Council Tax Benefit scheme which supports residents on low
incomes who need help to pay their Council Tax.
But that funding will be cut by 10% from next
April which means we will need to save around £373,000 in the first
year, but this gap will increase if the number of people claiming
benefit goes up, which already appears to be the trend.
Melton Borough Council is, therefore, seeking
residents’ views on the best way to achieve an affordable scheme
that will continue to support the most vulnerable and protected
members of the community but will also provide value-for-money and
protect other services for all our residents.
The Government’s reforms will, however, force
the Council to consider changing discounts and exemptions which are
currently in place, including reductions for second homes and
unoccupied properties.
The public consultation begins on Thursday,
August 2nd, 2012, and will run until Friday, September 28, 2012 and
will be available online at http://consultations.leicester.gov.uk/partnership/cts_melton
The link will take residents to a consultation site hosted by
Leicester City Council, but Melton residents only need to click on
Melton Borough Council logo to complete our consultation.
Council Tax Support will replace Council Tax Benefit as part of
wider changes being implemented by central government to reform the
benefit system and reduce worklessness.
For more information, or a copy of the
consultation pack please contact Melton Borough Council on 01664
502 502 or email reception@melton.gov.uk
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