Sat, 05 Jul 2025

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 Council tax plan could 'reduce' help for poorest

To save money, Durham County Council is proposing changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.
Durham County Council is considering changes to its Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) that could force low-income residents to pay up to 25% of their council tax bill. The current scheme allows those on low income to apply for a discount of up to 100% off their bill, but the council claims it's too expensive and plans to hold a consultation on four possible options. These options would either keep the current scheme or introduce minimum payment thresholds of 10%, 20%, or 25%. The council says it needs to save £45m by 2028-29 and estimates that the proposed changes could save between £3.8m and £10.35m per year. Debt charity StepChange has expressed concerns about reducing support for low-income residents, saying it would lead to debt collection and enforcement problems.
  >>