Council tax reduction scheme to continue in Sandwell
Council tax is expected to increase by 4.99 per cent – as Sandwell Council continues with a £30 million scheme which gives people on low incomes a 100 per cent reduction in their council tax.
A vote at the authority's full council meeting on Tuesday means the borough is now the only one in the West Midlands to offer a full discount as councillors said they won’t ‘penalise the poor’.
The vote to retain the scheme passed as the authority prepares its budget for next year which is expected to include a 4.99 per cent increase in council tax.
Councillor Wasim Ali, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for resources and core services, said now was not the time to take money away from those who had very little.
He said: “This is a scheme we introduced two years ago and it offers so much support to so many people.
“One thing I’m very proud of and this council should be very proud of, is we are the only authority in the region still offering 100 per cent support.
“Now at this time more than ever, when people have suffered redundancy or lost their jobs this kind of support really comes into hand.”
Commendable
Councillor Rajbir Singh, backing the proposal, said the council should be congratulated for continuing to help to people on low incomes.
He said: “It is really commendable that despite a decade of austerity and the recent financial strains due to the pandemic Sandwell Council has been able to maintain the 100 per cent council tax reduction for those who need that helping financial hand.
“Sandwell tends to miss out on our opportunities to shout about the many good things we do here but this is something we should be really proud of.”
Councillors voted overwhelmingly to continue the scheme.
