News | Council tax
Council tax support cut
MAIDSTONE Council has deter- mined the level of council tax sup- port to be available to low income households from April 2014. The change follows the Govern-
ment’s decision to remove the na- tional council tax benefit system and replace itwith a requirement for local councils to develop their own scheme. Whilst pensioners have been pro-
tected from any change, overall fund- ing for the scheme was reduced as part of the wider package of welfare reforms, resulting in the council hav- ing to take some tough decisions. The council hasmaintained the key elements of the former national scheme to ensure that those most in need continue to receive a higher rate of support, but people on council tax support who are of working age will be asked to pay aminimum of 13 per cent of the bill in 2014-15, up from 8.5 per cent during this financial year. Cabinetmember for corporate serv-
ices Cllr Brian Moss said: “The coun- cil recognises this is a difficult time for many residents and has to balance the needs of claimants with the wider interest of the council tax payer and the funding available to the council. “The council is able to fund the dis-
count by changes it has made to dis- counts in other areas, such as those given to owners of second homes.”
downsmail.co.uk
Residents face tax hike in bid to balance budget
COUNCIL tax could be rising by up to 36p a month as Maidstone Coun- cil juggles to balance its budget.
The borough has to raise additional income and re- duce its spending to achieve savings of £5.5m in the next five years. Itwants to save £1.163m
in 2014-15 and £600,000 in later years, but it still has to find an extra £3.762m by March 2019, as a result of Government grant reduc- tions.
Maidstone’s ideas in-
clude raising the council tax and putting up commercial rents. The council has a budget
of £33.9m and, so far, offi- cers think they can raise £104,000 from new income sources such as planning application fees, sales of green garden refuse bins and commercial rents. They also hope to save £800,000 on the cost of contracts for services and
ices where there is a direct charge to users. Council leader Chris Garland said: “The council has to find these savings because the Government has reduced public sector spending to re- duce the level of debt, keep interest rates low and bring about economic recovery. “As a result, Government
funding to the council will reduce by at least 11.5% or £910,000 next year. “At the same time we will
£259,000 in reduced staffing costs. The borough is also considering an
average 36p per month rise in council tax and increases in charges for serv-
be spending £806,000 to sup- port economic and housing growth. Added to this, some services are costingmore be- cause demand is outstrip- ping the savings that can be made from making them more efficient.”
The budget is due to be decided at
the full council meeting on February 26.
6
Maidstone Town February 2014
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