Time is running out for Somerset residents to have their say on possible changes to a scheme which offers financial support to working-age adults on low incomes. The deadline to respond is 1 October.

In November 2023, Somerset Council declared a financial emergency due to increasing costs of providing key services and agreed to several actions to reduce spending.

This included a commitment to consult with the public on potential changes to the Council Tax Reduction (CTR) 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.

Cllr Bill Revans, Leader of Somerset Council, said:

“We fully recognise and appreciate the value of Council Tax Reduction to those on low incomes – in fact one of our first decisions as a unitary council was to harmonise this support for everyone across the county.

“However, the national model of funding local government is broken. The costs of providing key demand-led services have risen sharply and we have limited ways to raise income.

“Without national intervention, this means we have no choice but to consider all available options to reduce spending. But we will not do this lightly and it’s really important that people understand the changes being proposed and have their say so we can consider every impact before any decisions are made.”

To have your say or find out more about the proposals, visit the Council’s consultation webpage. The consultation runs until 1 October, and the results will be published, with any decisions coming into effect from 1 April 2025.

Paper copies are available in libraries and letters have been posted to all those who currently receive CTR support.