Date issued: 21 November 2019
On 20 November, Colchester Borough Council's Cabinet agreed that its current Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) scheme, which this year has helped 9,000 residents reduce their council tax bill and provided around £8.5million of support, should remain the same for 2020-21 and will be discussed by Full Council.
Colchester's current LCTS scheme provides a Council Tax reduction for residents who need additional support. The scheme is one of the most generous in Essex and aligns with the council’s strategic plan to make Colchester an even better place to live and to support those who need help.
The 2020-21 LCTS scheme has already been considered by the council’s Scrutiny Panel and will now be discussed by Full Council on 5 December, with a proposed implementation date of 1 April 2020.
Councillor David King, Portfolio Holder for Business and Resources, said: “We remain committed to supporting the most vulnerable members of our community and providing a better Colchester.
The Local Council Tax Support scheme is one great way in which we are achieving this aim. Reducing the costs for 9,000 of the most deserving and vulnerable of our residents has always had support from Councillors across the political spectrum and we will recommend we do again next year, despite the costs. But this is just one part of the support we give. We distribute benefits quickly – an award-winning performance that has meant national recognition for our teams.
“Our frontline staff are also available to support residents who need specialist welfare benefit advice, and other officers are available to provide employment assistance. This is a package of council support for the most vulnerable, when they are at their most low and it is great that we can continue to help so many and to plan to do so again next year.”
Page last reviewed: 21 November 2019