CUTS to council tax benefits – which will affect around 30,000 households – have been approved by Sheffield Council
Working age people receiving council tax benefits will have to pay 23 per cent – equivalent to at least £4.32 a week.
The changes are being made because the council is receiving a £5.5 million cut in the funding paid by the Government to cover council tax benefits.
Pensioners are protected from changes so the savings are being made via other households.
Other changes involve removing a 10 per cent discount on council tax for those with second homes.
Meanwhile, a 12-month council tax-free period for empty homes in need of repair will be cut to a 25 per cent discount on normal rates.
And a discount for other empty homes of 100 per cent for the first six months will be reduced to 10 per cent.
Labour councillors have defended a decision not to accept £1.1 million of Government money being offered to support households worst-affected by the change – because it is on condition the council puts in a similar amount.
But Liberal Democrat and Green Party councillors said the council council should have accepted the funding and made up its contribution.
Coun Bryan Lodge, in charge of finance, said: “The council has no money to make up this gap.”
Comments