Residents asked to comment on proposed changes to Council Tax Support scheme

Local people are being asked for their views on proposed changes to the Council Tax Support scheme that helps working age people on low incomes to pay their Council Tax.

From April, the Council is recommending a number of changes to simplify the scheme for all working age claimants as part of its preparations for the introduction of Universal Credit Full Service across the District.

The changes would make the scheme easier for claimants to understand as well as helping to simplify the application process. It would also be cheaper for the Council to administer and therefore more cost efficient than the current scheme.

The Council is not proposing to reduce the amount it currently spends on its Council Tax Reduction.

Sevenoaks District Council is keen to hear the views of its residents and organisations before it takes a final decision in late November and is running a short survey from Monday 23 July to Sunday 16 September 2018.

The survey is available at www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/ctsurvey or by calling the Council on 01732 227000 to request a paper copy of the survey.

Cllr John Scholey, Sevenoaks District Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, says: “The introduction of Universal Credit in the District from November will bring a number of challenges for the Council. We are therefore proposing to make changes to our Council Tax Support scheme to make it easier for claimants to understand as well as making the scheme easier for our staff to administer.”

Queries about the survey should be sent to CTRSconsultation@sevenoaks.gov.uk or call Sevenoaks District Council on 01732 227000.