Wokingham Borough Council tax benefit changes

From April 2013, all local authorities in England and Wales who bill and collect council tax will have a duty to create and manage their own local council tax support scheme. The government will only offer a fixed annual grant for this new discount and the grant will be at least 10 per cent less than what is paid now.

Wokingham Borough Council is asking for residents’ views on how the most vulnerable people in the borough can continue to be protected after central government cut funding for council tax benefits.

In looking to create a local scheme, Wokingham Borough Council, together with the police, fire service and town and parish councils for whom the borough council collect council tax, face a funding cut of approximately £600,000 per annum from April 2013. This would be equivalent to almost a 0.75 per cent increase in council tax for everyone in the borough if no action was taken.

Further details about the proposals can be found on the council’s website along with an online survey -www.wokingham.gov.uk/council/consultations/counciltaxbenefit/. If residents do not have access to the internet and would still like to take part, they can request a printed copy of the consultation by calling Wokingham Direct on (0118) 974 6000 between 8am and 6pm