Lib Dems call for more help on Council Tax bills

At November’s Council meeting, Labour Council bosses blocked a proposal to help more people with Council Tax bills amid rising household costs.

Liberal Democrat councillors proposed an amendment to the Council Tax support scheme – this is the scheme that ensures that those on certain benefits are 100% exempt from Council Tax, as the Government doesn’t cover all of this cost.

West Banes councillors John Oliver and Robert Page asked the Council to consider how to modernise the scheme to extend support to people who are struggling through the cost-of-living emergency, but fall just outside the eligibility criteria and who don’t currently get help with their Council Tax bills [see page 5 of this]

Speaking after the Council meeting, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Wimbledon, Cllr Paul Kohler, said:

“With energy bills skyrocketing and prices going up, families across Merton are already having to make difficult choices.

“They have been abandoned by the Conservative Government, whose failure to take action has allowed the cost of living crisis to spiral out of control.

“Whilst the Government should do more, the Council cannot simply absolve itself of any responsibility – it should at least look at what further steps it can take to help people”.

News website MyLondon recently asked all 32 London councils what extra help they are giving people to cope with cost of living crisis this winter – Merton Council failed to reply.