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A new Council Tax Support Scheme for Barking and Dagenham 2025-26

What is this consultation about?

The Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme is the way we currently help residents on a low income to pay their Council Tax. 


The Council replaced its CTS scheme with a new replacement ‘income banded discount scheme’ for 2024/25. 


The scheme must be reviewed annually and this year the Council is deciding whether to change the working age Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme in Barking & Dagenham for 2025/26.


We are legally required to consult on any proposed changes to the scheme and we’re asking you to take part in this consultation to find out what you think and tell us your views about our proposed CTS Scheme, which would start from 01 April 2025.


We will be writing to all Council Tax Support claimants to provide further information of how the proposed new scheme could affect them.

What are our proposals?

The Council is proposing to change the current level of support provided by the Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme for working age applicants. 


There would be no changes for Pension Age applicants as they are part of the national scheme. 



The Council is proposing to:



  • Retain an income banded discount scheme.

  • Increase the income allowances to take account of increases in income and Benefits.

  • Increase the deduction applied for non-dependent adults who are part of the household from £7.50 to £10.

  • Reduce the overall award in the income band(s) by 5%. 

This will mean that the maximum discount (Band 1) which is currently 85% will be reduced to 80%.

All other band discounts will also see a reduction of 5% from the current scheme.


What are we consulting on?

We are proposing to replace the existing Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme with a scheme that reduces the level of support compared to the current scheme. 


The consultation will ask for views on the changes that are proposed.


It will also ask for alternative views.


The consultation is open from Monday 12th August 2024 and will close on Sunday 22nd September 2024 (midnight).


Thank you for taking the time to share your views.

Key documents

CTS Support Scheme - Consultation policy document 2025-26
CTS Support Scheme - Consultation policy document 2025-26

File

Appendix 1 - The proposed CTS scheme for 2025-26
Appendix 1 - The proposed CTS scheme for 2025-26

File

Appendix 2 - Examples of how the new proposed scheme could be applied
Appendix 2 - Examples of how the new proposed scheme could be applied

File

Have your say here

Council Tax Support (CTS) Scheme 2025-26

Click here

Next Steps

In the coming weeks, we will be writing to all Council Tax Support claimants to provide further information of how the proposed new scheme could affect them.


We will listen carefully to what you tell us and take the responses into consideration when making a final decision on the 2025/26 scheme.


Following the decision, the full results from the consultation will be available on the Council's website.


Any new scheme will start on 01 April 2025. 


The Council will consider the impact of the scheme annually and consult again if it thinks further changes need to be made.

Would you like to speak to someone about the proposed Council Tax Support Scheme?

Barking Learning Centre
Barking Learning Centre

Our outreach services will be on site at Barking Learning Centre to support residents to complete the survey and answer any questions regarding the proposed changes:

August 21, 2024

Dagenham Library
Dagenham Library

Our outreach services will be on site at Dagenham Library to support residents to complete the survey and answer any questions regarding the proposed changes:

August 22, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions