Council tax support scheme consultation 2023-24

Overview

Council tax support is provided to around 6,600 households in Cheltenham at an annual cost of just over £6.6m. This includes working and pension age claimants. Approximately 69% of these households are of working age. The cost of the council tax support scheme is met by this council and the precepting authorities who are the county council and the police. The share of the cost is the same as the share of the council tax.

From 1 April 2019, Cheltenham Borough Council introduced a revised local council tax support scheme which increased the contribution that some people receiving help must make towards their council tax bills. Some further changes were made to the scheme from 1 April 2020 and the Council is now in the position of determining its local council tax support scheme with effect from 1 April 2023.

Why your views matter

Each year the Council has to decide whether to make changes to the administration of its council tax support scheme for working age applicants in the borough. This year we are consulting on a proposed scheme from 1 April 2023 that will ensure that our most vulnerable residents continue to receive the vital support required.

The Council wants to hear the view of local residents regarding the proposals for the 2023-24 scheme. 

The consultation in respect of the council tax support scheme for 2023-24 is open to everyone who lives in Cheltenham, regardless of whether they currently claim benefits and/or council tax support, work or study in the town  and want to have their views heard.

*This survey can be completed anonymously however if you choose to share your personal details for future contact we will store and use this information in line with Cheltenham Borough Council's privacy policy*

Council tax collection privacy statement | Revenues and benefits privacy data | Cheltenham Borough Council

What happens next

The information collected from this consultation will be used by the Council to assist in making its decision on the council tax support scheme from 1 April 2023.

The results from the consultation will be published later this year on our website.

Work will take place to update the council tax support scheme which will be considered as a full council meeting in December 2022. The scheme will then be reflected as a discount on council tax bills for 2023-24.