Council Tax Support (CTS) Scheme 2023-24

What is this consultation about?

LBBD is considering making changes to how it provides support to residents who need help paying their Council Tax.

This consultation will ask for responses on these proposals to change the Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme for working age households.

Working age households are those under State Pension age (66). The scheme for pension age households is set by government and will continue to operate in the same way as it does currently’.


What Council Tax Support is available now?

Currently, we offer CTS which is a means tested discount. LBBD check the income and size of the household applying for support and give a discount to people who are eligible. This discount is applied directly to the Council Tax account.

The maximum level of discount available to working age residents through the CTS scheme is 75%, meaning households have to pay a minimum of 25% of their bill.

Details of the current scheme can be found here: Council Tax Support Scheme 2022/23


Why are changes to the CTS scheme being considered?

With the current cost of living increasing, the Council wants to better support low income residents of the borough with their ongoing Council Tax costs. Residents will be supported with their ongoing cost of living through an increase in the CTS discount, reducing the payable Council Tax charge and increasing resident income.


What changes are being considered?

We are proposing to increase the CTS maximum discount to up to 85% of the total Council Tax bill for all working age residents in receipt of CTS.

This means a reduced minimum payment of 15% of the Council Tax bill is required for all working age residents in receipt of CTS, regardless of financial circumstances.

These changes would take effect from 1 April 2023 to be in place for the 2023-24 financial year.


Have any other proposals been considered?

We have also considered retaining the same CTS scheme with a maximum discount of 75% (keeping a minimum payment of 25%) and increasing the maximum discount by a smaller amount, to 80% (giving a reduced minimum payment of 20%).

The Council is also considering proposals to implement a new CTS scheme for the 2024/25 financial year. This will involve bigger changes which will need longer to be implemented.

This consultation also asks for responses on these bigger proposed changes.


The consultation is open from Monday 5th September and will close midnight Wednesday 5th October.

What is this consultation about?

LBBD is considering making changes to how it provides support to residents who need help paying their Council Tax.

This consultation will ask for responses on these proposals to change the Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme for working age households.

Working age households are those under State Pension age (66). The scheme for pension age households is set by government and will continue to operate in the same way as it does currently’.


What Council Tax Support is available now?

Currently, we offer CTS which is a means tested discount. LBBD check the income and size of the household applying for support and give a discount to people who are eligible. This discount is applied directly to the Council Tax account.

The maximum level of discount available to working age residents through the CTS scheme is 75%, meaning households have to pay a minimum of 25% of their bill.

Details of the current scheme can be found here: Council Tax Support Scheme 2022/23


Why are changes to the CTS scheme being considered?

With the current cost of living increasing, the Council wants to better support low income residents of the borough with their ongoing Council Tax costs. Residents will be supported with their ongoing cost of living through an increase in the CTS discount, reducing the payable Council Tax charge and increasing resident income.


What changes are being considered?

We are proposing to increase the CTS maximum discount to up to 85% of the total Council Tax bill for all working age residents in receipt of CTS.

This means a reduced minimum payment of 15% of the Council Tax bill is required for all working age residents in receipt of CTS, regardless of financial circumstances.

These changes would take effect from 1 April 2023 to be in place for the 2023-24 financial year.


Have any other proposals been considered?

We have also considered retaining the same CTS scheme with a maximum discount of 75% (keeping a minimum payment of 25%) and increasing the maximum discount by a smaller amount, to 80% (giving a reduced minimum payment of 20%).

The Council is also considering proposals to implement a new CTS scheme for the 2024/25 financial year. This will involve bigger changes which will need longer to be implemented.

This consultation also asks for responses on these bigger proposed changes.


The consultation is open from Monday 5th September and will close midnight Wednesday 5th October.