Have your say on proposed changes to Buckinghamshire’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme

The scheme helps working-age residents on low incomes by reducing the amount of Council Tax they need to pay, helping nearly 14,000 working-age households in Buckinghamshire each year. This currently means the council collecting £20 million less in council tax each year.

The proposals being put forward by the council aim to simplify how its Council Tax Reduction Scheme works. The majority of local authorities have reviewed their Council Tax Reduction Schemes resulting in a 3.9% national average reduction in claimant numbers between 2020 and 2024, while Buckinghamshire has seen 7.6% more claimants during the same period. Eligible recipients would be ‘banded’ in a move to make applications quicker by accelerating claims processing from 29 days to 10 days, and simpler and removing ‘volatility’ in the system where households have changes in income levels. The council’s Cabinet has reviewed the proposals and agreed to consult on them at a meeting this week.

Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, Robert Carington, says:

“It is important that our residents on low incomes continue to be supported through this scheme and I do want to highlight that if you are facing significant financial hardship, there are ways the council can support you when it comes to paying Council Tax. However, it’s pertinent to review the current scheme to ensure it’s as simple, straightforward and as efficient as possible during a time when the council is facing considerable financial pressure such as in the context of the Government’s Fair Funding Review 2.0, which will divert significant funding away from Buckinghamshire in the coming financial year.

We need to strike a balance between the need to provide extra support to residents who need it the most, while maintaining a financially sustainable scheme for the council’s wider budget that enables it to deliver essential front-line services that residents depend on.

These changes mean the scheme will support residents who need it most while offering a simpler system that will also save the council and taxpayers money overall.

I would like to encourage all residents to have their say on the proposed changes, whether you are someone who is supported by the scheme or not; all Buckinghamshire residents are invited to express their views so please feed back to us before the consultation closes in early February.”

https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/revenues-benefits-assessments/council-tax-reduction-scheme/