Page 74 - Phonebox Magazine October 2012

COUNCILLOR CORNER - LATE NEWS
Hypnotherapy
John van Weenen
C.M.H., C.Hyp., P.N.L.P M.U.K.G.H.E.
Member of the United Kingdom Guild Of Hypnotist Examiners
Visit: www.olneyhypnotherapy.com email: johnvanweenen@btinternet.com
Telephone now for free advice and a chat, or to arrange a 45 minute free consultation totally without obligation.
01234 714999
Council Tax Benefit is changing
From April next year a new scheme for Council Tax Benefit which is for people on low or no income to help them pay their Council Tax will be introduced. The new scheme will be called Council Tax Support (CTS). All Councils will receive a grant of 90% of the previous allocation from government for Council Tax Benefit. In Milton Keynes the change means we have to find an extra £2.5m of cost savings next year.
The headlines issued by government about CTS indicate that Councils have the freedom to decide how to allocate the available money. However in reality there are strict rules laid down by government about the scheme which leaves little manoeuvre room for Councils. All pensioners who receive Council Tax Benefit currently must continue to receive it which covers around 13,000 of the total 20,000 in Milton Keynes receiving this benefit. This leaves potentially 7,000 to shoulder the burden of the 10% cut. However, in devising the replacement scheme we are determined to protect the most vulnerable people in our society and we are also trying to ensure that benefits allocated do not act as a disincentive to work.
We are currently consulting about options available for the new Council Tax Support Scheme. We are talking to community support groups such as Shelter, Citizens Advice Bureau, and Housing Associations as well as directly to residents via the Council web site. Details about the different options being considered are at www.communities.gov.uk under “Council Tax Benefit Changes”.
The Council’s Cabinet will be considering all the options for the new CTS scheme at their meeting on 17 October before making a recommendation to Full Council as part of the budget setting process for 2012/13.
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74 Phonebox Magazine