Published: Tuesday, 5th March 2024
The Borough Council’s Council Tax Support Scheme will be more generous in 2024/25, meaning people entitled to the most help through this scheme will not have to pay council tax.
New rules agreed in the council’s budget mean that more people will be eligible for some help under the scheme and those on the lowest incomes will not have to pay any council tax at all.
Cllr Chris Morley, the Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, said:
“At a time when families up and down the country are finding it hard to make ends meet, it’s right that we do everything we can to help people to manage. The package of measures we have put in place demonstrates the council’s commitment to supporting communities in West Norfolk, which is one of our key strategic priorities.
“We are funding a building programme totalling £170m over the next 4 years, with a much greater proportion of much-needed affordable and rental homes, which will start to come on stream next year.
“Where prices have increased this has been done in a measured way and the overall approach means we have a fully-funded budget, with no cuts to any of our existing services, unlike many other Councils.”
Changes to the council tax support scheme were agreed by the council as part of a range of financial measures for 2024/25, which included a £500,000 package of support for local charities.
The council’s financial plans include raising income by charging extra council tax on empty homes and second homes*, and raising fees and charges by an average of 10%. The council is also continuing to lobby Government over the way Internal Drainage Boards are funded: the current rules mean that the council has to pass on the equivalent of around 43% of its income from council tax to pay for the Boards.
The increase in the Borough Council portion of the council tax is 3.1%; this means the average increase for a Band D property will be £5 per household and bills will be sent out over the coming days.
Anyone with concerns about their council tax bill can find information and support at www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/counciltax. Included is information on council tax bills, discounts and exemptions, as well as support with the cost of living.