Tuesday 17th February 2015, Saffron Walden: Residents for Uttlesford (R4U), the local advocacy party for towns and villages, has announced that it supports the proposed UDC District Council Tax cut of 3%. But the party says it doesn’t go far enough, and so it has filed an amendment to reverse the Tories’ removal of Local Council Tax Support for the district’s poorest families.
Cllr John Lodge (R4U)John Lodge continued “However it is important for us to support the most vulnerable in society. Last year the current UDC Administration withdrew council tax relief from the poorest families. During our manifesto consultations we received a number of comments; one resident wrote to say ‘we barely exist as it is and struggle to survive; most weeks I’m constantly watching my bills to see what’s left for food.’ We’ve proposed an amendment to the tax cut to have Local Council Tax Support restored for those at risk. It can be fully funded within the existing reserves, and we’re calling for cross-party support.”
On Thursday 26th February the full UDC Council will vote on a motion to cut the district portion of the 2015/16 Council Tax bill by 3%. R4U, who support this motion, has requested an amendment to restore Local Council Tax Support, which provides tax relief to the poorest families.