The deadline for the public to have their say about the proposed new Council Tax Support scheme has been extended to Monday 15th October.
The Government is abolishing Council Tax Benefit across the UK from 2013/14 and will provide grants to local councils to design their own systems for rebating Council Tax to low income households. National funding for Council Tax support in this area is being cut by 20%, equivalent to £1.5 million for our Council.
There are a range of changes to the existing scheme that have been put forward to address this. These can be found at www.bathnes.gov.uk/CTSchanges
The Council has already written directly to those people who currently claim Council Tax benefit; to explain how they can respond to the consultation and give them their views.
All local residents, organisations and Parish Councils can also comment on the proposals by answering a general questionnaire found at www.bathnes.gov.uk/CTSchanges
Any resident without the internet can access the consultation for free via the self-service PC’s available at the Bath One Stop Shop, The Hollies, Keynsham Riverside, and Council Libraries. Following the completion of the consultation a final policy will be developed which needs to be passed by full Council for agreement before January 31, 2013.
