Paying Council Tax will become easier for some in Macclesfield, as Cheshire East Council have given the go-ahead to a Support Scheme.

At the Cheshire East Council meeting on Wednesday 15 December the new Labour/Independent administration brought in a scheme to help those who cannot afford to pay their council tax, with those receiving Job Seekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Income Support eligible for complete relief from council tax and those earning under £97 a week receiving up to 80% discount.

Families with at least one child with income under £200 a week will also receive an 80% discount. The new scheme will come into force in April 2022.

Sam Corcoran, Labour & Co-operative Councillor for Sandbach Heath & East and Leader of the Council said, "In 2015 the Labour group, then in opposition, opposed plans to increase the minimum contribution from 20% to 25%.

"But it was voted through – increasing the burden on those least able to pay. I am pleased today to be able to implement what Labour suggested in opposition and reverse the increase forced through by the Conservative administration in 2015. And in the proposals today we can go much further increasing the maximum award to 100% - meaning those least able to pay, will not have to pay any council tax to Cheshire East Council.

"This protects households on low incomes and delivers on the council's aim in the Corporate Plan to be Fair, Open and Green.

The scheme today also supports families with an 80% discount on council tax for single child families with income less than £200 a week or income less than £290 a week for families with 2 or more children.

The proposals today also include measures to both streamline the system and make it more generous by bringing it into line Universal Credit assessment on a number of disregards and deductions from earnings in calculating the amount of support available.

This new Council Tax Support Scheme is helping those most in need in our communities, which is what many in this hall came into politics to do. I thank the officers who have worked on this scheme, those who responded to the consultation and thereby helped formulate the scheme and I am honoured to propose the recommendations on page 336."

Marilyn Houston, Labour Councillor for Crewe West, said, "When faced with a funding gap in 2021/22 in the money received from central government the Council reluctantly raised council tax to keep essential local services running and set a balanced budget. At that time a commitment was made to review the Council Tax Support Scheme to alleviate the burden felt by those least able to afford it.

"I am glad to have been part of the group of Labour Councillors who worked together, with the advice of finance officers, to come up with ways to strengthen the support provided by this scheme.

"We recognise that our residents will be feeling the pinch after a tough 18 months with the cost of living rising, whilst some may be facing uncertain employment prospects. This new scheme will bring relief to people in Cheshire East who are struggling on low incomes."

Labour share power with Independent councillors in Cheshire East Council, the largest form of local government which represents Macclesfield.

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