West Oxfordshire District Council is consulting with residents about amendments to its Council Tax Reduction Scheme, which if agreed, would completely exempt their poorest residents from council tax payments.
The changes proposed include:
- Introducing a banded scheme which would see a simple flat
rate percentage discount awarded, depending on a person’s total weekly ‘net’ income
- Ignoring all child maintenance payments when calculating
weekly income.
Cllr Toby Morris, Cabinet Member for Resources said: “We are keen to simplify the existing scheme. By introducing income bands we can help applicants budget over longer periods whilst ensuring those on lowest income receive the maximum amount of council tax support available.”
Residents identified as vulnerable or in receipt of a state pension will not be impacted by any of the changes.
The consultation is open to everyone and details can be found at www.westoxon.gov.uk/CTRS
Paper copies of the survey are available for those without internet access. These can be picked up from the Council reception points in Witney and Chipping Norton.
The consultation deadline is 9 November 2018. A report will then be considered by councillors before any changes to the current scheme are decided. These would come into effect from April 2019.