Council Tax Reduction Scheme Amended Following Public Consultation

Following public consultation, Bridgend County Borough Council has confirmed details of its 2017-18 Council Tax Reduction scheme which will once again help thousands of households on low incomes to meet the cost of their council tax bills. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The scheme provides eligible people with a reduction on their council tax bills of up to 100 per cent, and there are currently 14,251 households in Bridgend County Borough receiving Council Tax Reduction. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Welsh Government sets the main features of the national scheme which need to be applied by all councils, but each local authority has discretionary powers to amend some elements of the scheme locally. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

At a meeting of Full Council on Wednesday 11 January, councillors heard the results of a public consultation, which was carried out between 31 October and 18 December 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillors agreed with public opinion that War Disablement Pensions, War Widows Pensions and War Widowers Pensions should continue not to be included when calculating an applicant’s income. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A total of 681 residents completed the survey, and 62 per cent of respondents were in favour of war pensions not being taken into account. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillors also agreed that local residents who return to work after getting a Council Tax Reduction can, if they qualify, get an extra four weeks’ Council Tax Reduction at the same rate. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

After considering the consultation’s findings, it was also confirmed that Bridgend County Borough Council will now backdate Council Tax Reduction applications for three months, which is the Welsh Government standard. The local authority had previously backdated claims for six months. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Fifty four per cent of respondents to the survey had supported lowering the six month backdating period. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Hywel Williams, the council’s Deputy Leader, said: “Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their views on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, so that we can continue to make our scheme as fair as possible and help people on low incomes pay their council tax bills.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To receive a Council Tax Reduction, residents must apply to the council either by calling 01656 643643 or by emailing benefits@bridgend.gov.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​