Wirral leader warns of council tax benefit cuts

Nov 28 2012 by Liam Murphy, Heswall News

THOUSANDS of Wirral’s poorest families will be hit by Government cuts to council tax benefits, the borough’s leader has warned.

The responsibility for helping those on low-incomes with their council tax bill is to be transferred to local authorities.

But council leader Phil Davies said the government is also to reduce its funding toward the scheme by 10% – leaving Wirral Council with a potential shortfall of over £3.5m.

The council says it aims to ensure vulnerable people – such as those with disabilities or in receipt of war disablement pensions – will not be affected by the changes, but other current claimants of working age could be.

Cllr Davies, said the changes imposed on the council forcing more people to pay towards council tax would have “devastating consequences for those of working age on low-incomes”.

Residents were consulted earlier this year on a series of options for delivering the replacement Local Council Tax Support Scheme.

This week Wirral council’s ruling cabinet will be asked to approve a scheme that will make up the loss of funding.