A recommendation for an “opened up” Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) scheme has been approved by the Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet.
The body, which is responsible for most of the council’s business, voted unanimously in favour of deputy leader and cabinet member for housing and finance Ian Stephens’s LCTS proposal for 2025/26.
The councillor for Ryde West said his plan included an “improvement” and that the Alliance administration had tried to be as “generous” as “we possibly can”.
LCTS helps residents on low incomes pay council tax, with the amount of assistance given dependant on people’s income and individual circumstances.
The council has a system of bands, weekly income categories and household types which helps it determine how much, or if any, tax relief it offers people.
All working age recipients must pay at least 25 per cent of council tax they owe to County Hall and can claim for no more than 75 per cent of their bill in support.
Cllr Stephens’s proposal includes a number of “small changes” to the way in which LCTS is calculated.
The alterations include replacing the current earnings disregards of £25 and £17.10 per week with one standard earnings disregard of £45 per week, disregarding the childcare element of Universal Credit and disregarding Post Office Compensation Scheme payments.
Cllr Stephens’s plan also includes the continuation of the council’s exceptional hardship policy, an extra program of support to assist residents, for a limited period of time, over and above LCTS.
Cabinet member for climate change, biosphere and waste Lora Peacey-Wilcox said:
“It’s really good to see so many of the town and parish councils that have actually agreed with the paper.
“Northwood Parish Council, Brading Town Council, Cowes Town Council, Chale Parish Council, Fishbourne Parish, Wootton, Bembridge, East Cowes, Whippingham.
“So I don’t think there can be too much wrong.”
Debbie Andre, cabinet member for adult social care and public health, said:
“Certainly, the Local Council Tax Support scheme in the current financial climate for everybody is an absolutely essential source of help for residents, so thank you.”
Council leader Phil Jordan said:
“Very pleased and proud as an administration – we’ve increased this by ten per cent since we became the administration, Ian.
“Not only have we increased it by ten per cent – we’ve maintained it at ten per cent, helping those most in need in our community.”
The council’s February budget increased the level of LCTS for Islanders on the lowest incomes from a 70 to 75 per cent discount.
County Hall’s Full Council will decide on whether to go ahead with Cllr Stephens’s recommendation when the next budget is set on February 26 2025.
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