Have your say on Local Council Tax Support Scheme

Published Wednesday, 23rd October 2019

Members of the public are being invited to have their say on Hartlepool's Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2020/21.

The LCTS Scheme - under which local authorities are responsible for providing financial help with Council Tax to the most financially disadvantaged households - was introduced by Central Government when the national Council Tax Benefit system ended in 2013.

Under the current Hartlepool Borough Council scheme, low income working age households are required to make a minimum 12% contribution towards their Council Tax bills and this has been the case for the last six years.

However, the Council's Finance & Policy Committee has decided to consider changing the LCTS Scheme in 2020/21 and as a result members of the public have to be consulted on the options, including whether the existing 12% contribution should continue, whether the minimum contribution should increase to 14%, 16%, 18% or 20% or if any other level of contribution should be applied.

It is important to note that low income pensioner households continue to be protected and they will not be impacted by any change to the LCTS Scheme.

People can find out more and give their views by completing an online survey at www.hartlepool.gov.uk/LCTS

The 2020/21 LCTS Scheme must be agreed by the Council before December 31st 2019, and the survey will remain open until December 2nd.