Purpose of this consultationLike many councils across the country, Cheshire East Council is facing financial pressures and is reviewing services and policies as part of its budget planning.
As part of this process, the council is consulting on proposed changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme for working-age households.
The proposed changes are intended to help ensure the scheme remains affordable and can continue to provide support in the future, while continuing to provide support to residents on low incomes. If implemented, the proposed scheme is expected to reduce Council Tax Support expenditure by approximately
£2.1 million per year and would take effect from
April 2027.
No decision has yet been made. Feedback received through this consultation will be considered before any final decision is taken. We would like to hear from anyone who lives, works or studies in Cheshire East, whether you currently receive Council Tax Support or not.
What is Council Tax Support, and who might be affected?Council Tax Support (CTS) helps people on low incomes to pay their Council Tax.
Cheshire East Council currently provides around
£22 million of Council Tax Support each year to approximately
17,500 households across the borough. This includes around
10,800 working-age households, representing approximately
6% of all households in Cheshire East. It is these working-age households that could be affected by the proposals set out in this consultation. Pension-age households are protected by national regulations and would not be affected by any proposed changes.
Across the approximately
10,800 working-age households currently receiving Council Tax Support, the proposed scheme would reduce support by an average of around
£3.78 per week (£197 per year), although impacts would vary depending on household circumstances, income levels and Council Tax band.