Slough council considers axing 100 per cent council tax discount for unemployed

Unemployed people in Slough may no longer be entitled to a 100 per cent discount on their council tax bills due to planned cutbacks by the council.

Households who are not in any form of employment do not have to pay council tax under the current arrangements.

But the council is set to meet next week to discuss whether the council tax discount for unemployed people should be reduced to 70 per cent.

The council said if the change goes ahead, residents who previously paid nothing would pay an average of £468 per year.

A sliding scale of reductions from 50 per cent to five per cent will also be on offer depending on the weekly income of those who are in some form of employment.

Labour councillor Christine Hulme said she feared the proposed move could push disadvantaged people in Slough further into poverty.

She said: “We’ve got very high rates of poverty, one of the worst child poverty rates in Berkshire. A lot of the working age people who they (the council) say this will affect will have children in their household.

“I’m really, really concerned they’re going for this now at a time when people are really struggling.

“This is just going to drive people further into poverty.”

The council said it is considering reducing the discount offered in its council tax reduction scheme to bring Slough in line with neighbouring local authorities.

Windsor and Maidenhead council currently offers an 80 per cent council tax reduction to unemployed people.

Slough Borough Council said it has 6,504 working age claimants who are entitled to some form of reduction on their council tax bills.

This includes 1,019 people who pay nothing.

Councillor Hulme said that while the previous Labour administration did hike council tax bills by 10 per cent in 2023, it ensured the 100 per cent council tax reduction scheme remained in place.

She called on a full report on poverty levels in Slough to be produced before any consultation on council tax reductions is carried out.

Conservative councillor Mabu Shaik, cabinet member for I.T, customer services, revenue and benefits, procurement and performance, said: “We have been offering the highest discount of authorities across Berkshire for some time, but we cannot continue to do so.

“We need to bring our levels in line with those of our neighbours and ensure the scheme continues to be viable and affordable in future. Though the discount will be reduced, it will still be of help to those who need it.

“We don’t take decisions such as this lightly, and we understand the impact this may have on residents, but to close the budget gap the council must look at all options, including the financial support provided under the CTS Scheme.”

Members of Slough Borough Council’s cabinet are set to discuss the planned changes at a meeting on Thursday, November 14.

A public consultation must be carried out before any changes can be made.