Proposed changes to a council tax support scheme in Solihull could disproportionately affect the borough's most vulnerable residents, sparking concern among local politicians.
What Changes Are Being Proposed?
Solihull Council, which is run by the Conservatives, is consulting on further modifications to its council tax support scheme. This follows a major overhaul earlier this year that saw the authority switch from a means-tested system to a simplified 'income banded' model.
Council officer Joanne Robinson, the Head of Income and Awards, outlined the new proposals at a recent meeting. The key changes include:
- Ignoring all unearned income from Universal Credit during assessments.
- Increasing income bands for couples with one child by £10.
- Reducing income bands by £5 for single claimants, couples, single claimants with one child, and couples with two or more children.
- Decreasing income bands by £15 for single claimants with two or more children.
Financial Pressures and Impact on Residents
The drive for further change stems from the scheme's own success. While more residents are now using the support, the higher caseload has increased costs. The forecast for the end of this financial year is now £13.9 million.
According to council calculations, these new measures would negatively impact 470 claimants, who would see an average reduction of around £6 per week in their support.
Ms Robinson stated, "These reductions will help to mitigate the increased costs of this scheme." When asked by Liberal Democrat councillor Ade Adeyemo if the figures could be adjusted to prevent losses, she confirmed that after modelling eight different scenarios, this was the best option to minimise the impact.
Political Reaction and Discretionary Support
Green councillor Max McLoughlin expressed apprehension, noting, "There is likely to be more claimants in the future and we are trying to balance the cost by reducing how generous it is to vulnerable people."
In response to these concerns, officers stressed that anyone struggling with their council tax bill could apply for extra help through the council's discretionary fund.
Defending the proposals, Council Leader Karen Grinsell argued that the scheme remains "one of the generous" compared to other local authorities. Councillor Bob Sleigh added, "Very few people will actually be impacted, we are a council who do our very best to help people."
The council has now launched a public consultation on the proposed changes. Residents can share their views by completing the survey at the council's engagement portal. The consultation will run until 5pm on January 7.
