Locals encouraged to share views on council tax support scheme

Residents of Goole and the surrounding area are being invited to discuss what they think about changes to a local council tax support scheme.

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council is in the process of reviewing the council tax scheme for the 2017/18 financial year and has to carry out a public consultation on any changes it wishes to make before they can be confirmed.

The council wants to change the way they assess claims to make sure it is consistent with Government changes to housing benefit assessments. The nationwide changes made by the Government will kick in at the beginning of April 2017 and will mean that the amount of child tax credit available will be limited to a maximum of two for children born after this date.

Equivalent changes to calculations of housing benefit and universal credit claims will also be made from April 2017 to ensure benefit entitlement is consistent. To further this level of consistency, the council is proposing to make the same changes to its council tax support scheme for 2017/18.

Residents have up until Sunday, October 16, to go online and share their views on the proposed changes. A final decision will be made by members at a full council meeting on January 11, 2017.

Visit www.eastriding.gov.uk/counciltaxsupport to share your views.