Council Tax Reduction Scheme

    Somerset Residents are being encouraged to have their say on possible changes to a scheme that gives financial support to working age adults on low incomes.

    In November 2023, Somerset Council declared a financial emergency due to increasing costs of providing key services and agreed to a number of actions to reduce spending. This included a commitment to consult with the public on potential changes to the Council Tax Reduction scheme. Council Tax Reduction is a discount offered for Council Tax payers on low incomes. 

    The proposed changes would only apply to working age adults, the support provided for pensioners would not be affected. The options for consideration include reducing the maximum available discount from 100% to 75%.

    Leader of Somerset Council, Councillor Bill Revans says they have no choice but to consider all available options to cut spending, due to the poor state of the Council’s finances. Any decision to reduce the discount available to qualifying council tax payers will not be taken lightly and ask that as many people as possible take part in the consultation so the Council can consider every impact before any decisions are made.

    To have your say or find out more about the proposals, go to the Somerset Council website.

    The consultation runs until October First, with any decisions taking place later in the year and any changes coming into effect from 1 April 2025.

    More from Community & Charity News

    • Adrian Dening's Stars Over Somerset

      Monday 4th to Sunday 10th November 2024

    • Abandoned Vehicles

      The number of abandoned vehicles in Somerset has shot up recently, partly due to economic hardship, the cost of vehicle repairs, and stricter emissions regulations that have made older cars less viable

    • Reasons Learner Drivers Fail.

      The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has revealed the top reasons learner drivers fail their driving tests. These are the most common pitfalls.

    • Adrian Dening's Stars Over Somerset

      Monday 28th October to Sunday 3rd November 2024

    • Winter Coat Exchange Scheme

      As the weather turns colder and winter approaches, people in Somerset are being given the opportunity to swap a used coat for another coat.

    • Dog DNA

      Avon and Somerset Police are encouraging dog owners to protect their pets from theft by entering their details into a DNA doggy database.

    • Mobile Phones in Vehicles

      Somerset County Council’s road safety team is working with partners to urge drivers to keep their fixed eyes on the road.

    • Clean up our Countryside

      Two new litter-pick stations have been installed, equipped with litter pickers and reusable bags for anyone to borrow and do their own two-minute clean-up at countryside sites across South Somerset.

    Today's Weather

    • Yeovil

      Low-level cloud

      High: 13°C | Low: 7°C

    • Chard

      Low-level cloud

      High: 13°C | Low: 7°C

    • Crewkerne

      Low-level cloud

      High: 13°C | Low: 7°C

    • Somerton

      Low-level cloud

      High: 14°C | Low: 7°C

    • Wincanton

      Low-level cloud

      High: 12°C | Low: 7°C

    Recently Played