AtB&NES Council on Thursday, 8th November, plans to implement a local Council Tax Support Scheme replacing the national Council Tax benefit scheme from April, 2013 were debated. The meeting also considered using powers to charge extra Council Tax on empty and second properties. During the meeting, both the Tory and Lib-Dem Groups were split over how to deal with the issue.

Expressing concern about the changes, Cllr Robin Moss (B&NES Labour, Westfield said): "Councillors were asked to agree swingeing cuts to Council Tax benefit for some of the poorest families in the area, many of whom will be working people on low incomes. It was not only Labour Councillors who were concerned about these proposals which have been forced upon us as a result of Government austerity measures. Time and again, Tory rebels expressed concern about the impact of the cuts on needy families.

"The coalition at Westminster has cut B&NES' grant for Council Tax benefit by 10% and given the Council the task of drawing up a scheme which will distribute this reduced sum. As pensioners are to be protected and because the Lib-Dem Cabinet does not want to add any other Council resources to the scheme, this effectively means a 22% cut in Council Tax benefit for other eligible residents, costing them over £200 a year.

"At the same time, the council will be able to generate £1 million through using its new powers to tax empty and second homes at a higher rate.

"The Lib-Dems had wanted to put this £1 million into the general pot. However, a joint motion from Tory rebels and Labour forced them to consider using this money to help out some of the least well-off members of our community. But this was not before the Lib-Dem leadership had agreed to a Tory plan to use some of the cash to support landlords of empty properties, much to the dismay of a number of their backbenchers.

"Only now is the full impact of the Government's austerity measures beginning to be fully understood, and it is clear that even some Conservative Councillors regret the effect the cuts are going to have on their poorest residents. The Lib-Dems on B&NES are in disarray yet they are going to have to take their share of the responsibility for implementing proposals which will, as one Tory Councillor said: 'result in the poor paying for the benefits of the poorest'."

A B&NES' spokesman explained how the money was to be used to reduce the reduction in Council Tax benefit for people of working age: "Additional proposals agreed by the Council were to: establish a scheme to help support those people suffering hardship as a result of the changes, considering this alongside the transfer of the social fund presently administered by the Department for Work and Pensions which exists for similar purposes; and alter the proposed savings limit upwards for those eligible to qualify for support from £6,000 to £10,000.

"The new scheme protects the most vulnerable people and does not affect pensioners. All changes start from April 2013."