• Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
    • Business Mag
  • Sport
    • Football
    • NAFC
    • Cricket
    • Durham Wildcats
    • American Football
    • Baseball
    • Rugby
    • Youth Football
  • Features
    • Blog
    • Picture Galleries
  • Community
    • A.T People
    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Aycliffe Today
Aycliffe Today
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
      Events team charged to make their mark with awards event

      Events team charged to make their mark with awards event

      Businesses celebrate Resolution's final awards event of 2024

      Businesses celebrate Resolution's final awards event of 2024

      Darlington barber Mr Hutton is on a mission to cut out the stigma surrounding men’s mental health

      Darlington barber Mr Hutton is on a mission to cut out the stigma surrounding men’s mental health

      Getting To Know You – Lee Childs

      Getting To Know You – Lee Childs

    • Business Mag
      Aycliffe Business: Issue 64

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 64

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 63

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 63

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 62

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 62

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 61

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 61

  • Sport
    • Football
      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

    • NAFC
      Aycliffe up to 13th with double win

      Aycliffe up to 13th with double win

      Aycliffe clinch valuable away win

      Aycliffe clinch valuable away win

      Aycliffe lose at home to Consett

      Aycliffe lose at home to Consett

      Aycliffe claim valuable home win

      Aycliffe claim valuable home win

    • Cricket
      Newton Aycliffe senior ladies team win unique treble

      Newton Aycliffe senior ladies team win unique treble

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

    • Durham Wildcats
      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

    • American Football
      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

    • Baseball
      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

    • Rugby
      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

    • Youth Football
      NAFC Junior Section round-up

      NAFC Junior Section round-up

      NAFC Junior Section round-up

      NAFC Junior Section round-up

      NAFC Junior Section round-up

      NAFC Junior Section round-up

      NAFC Junior Section round-up

      NAFC Junior Section round-up

  • Features
    • Blog
      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

    • Picture Galleries
      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

  • Community
    • A.T People
      Spring 2015

      Spring 2015

      December 2014

      December 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
One-year extension to council tax discount for vulnerable to be considered
Home
News

One-year extension to council tax discount for vulnerable to be considered

June 30th, 2021 Martin Walker News 0 comments 662

top banner

The region’s only scheme to provide a 100 per cent discount on council tax payments to vulnerable households could be extended for another year.

Members of Durham County Council’s Cabinet will be asked to approve plans to continue the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme into 2021/22 when they discuss the authority’s Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) next week.

The report, which sets out the council’s long-term funding outlook and cost pressures, reveals that significant on-going financial uncertainty is making it extremely difficult for the authority to plan ahead, even if council tax increases mirror the maximum allowed without a referendum.

The council estimates that it may need to make a further £43.7m in savings over the next four years.

Having come to power in May, the new joint administration running the council is currently assessing its priorities.

However, unavoidable budget pressures in areas such as social care and waste disposal, alongside general inflationary pressures and uncertainty over the outcome timing of the Comprehensive Spending Review and the Fair Funding Review mean that planning is currently proving difficult.

The authority is, therefore, working hard to ensure it is in the best possible position to deal with potential pressures and that its plans remain flexible. A further update report is scheduled for October’s Cabinet.

Cllr Amanda Hopgood, leader of Durham County Council, said: “Local government is operating in a period of significant financial uncertainty and this is making planning extremely difficult. We really need some certainty from Government over future funding allocations.

“As a new joint administration we are reviewing the priorities for the council over the next four years as we await the outcome of the spending review. The level of uncertainty we face is not conducive to effective long-term decision making.

“It is likely that difficult decisions will need to be made if the financial forecasts contained in our latest projections are correct.

“Savings plans in the future will become more complex, requiring significant planning and consultation, but we are determined to ensure we engage our communities, partners and wider stakeholders in whatever plans we bring forward.”

The MTFP includes a proposal to continue the council’s Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme, which for the past eight years has offered eligible residents a discount of up to 100 per cent on their council tax charge.

The council is the only authority in the north east, and one of just a handful nationally, to have maintained the scheme in line with the old council tax benefit system despite funding being reduced. More than 57,000 residents in the country currently benefit from this support, including 36,000 working age claimants and 21,000 pensioners.

Should Cabinet approve the recommendations set out in the report the proposals would need to be endorsed by Full Council later in the year, and the scheme would be reviewed in a year’s time in advance of the budget setting for 2023/24.

Cllr Hopgood added: “The current policy of providing discounts of up to 100 per cent on council tax payments has helped to ease the burden on vulnerable households at a time when welfare reform changes and the pandemic have had a significant adverse impact, but this does come at a cost.

“The current financial climate is putting pressure on many people. so it is important that we continue to do all we can to support people when they need help.

“In terms of budgets going forward, the new joint administration is determined to keep a strong grip on the council’s finances, deliver value for money investments and have meaningful engagement and consultation on our priorities and on any spending and savings plans we develop.”

Cllr Richard Bell, Deputy Leader of Durham County Council and Cabinet member for Finance, said: “I welcome the updated forecasts, which give us a platform on which to base our service and financial planning. The sooner we know the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review and Fair Funding review impacts on our council, the better, as that will provide us with the certainty we need.

“I do however recognise the potential scale of the task facing us in terms of balancing the books across the coming years if the forecasts officers have prepared come to fruition.

“Difficult choices will have to be made, but we will leave no stone unturned in seeking to get the best possible value for money and protecting the public purse.”

top banner

Share it!

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Next article Newton Aycliffe FC Junior Section round-up
Previous article Coffee Break – with Craig Jones

Related News

Lumiere Light Labs illuminates opportunities for artists News
November 27th, 2023

Lumiere Light Labs illuminates opportunities for artists

Bishop shines bright as AGLOW opens to visitors News
November 22nd, 2023

Bishop shines bright as AGLOW opens to visitors

Preparatory works get underway for A167 upgrades at Newton Aycliffe News
November 22nd, 2023

Preparatory works get underway for A167 upgrades at Newton Aycliffe

LATEST VIDEO

This week on A.T

Nov 27th 9:10 PM
Sport

Aycliffe up to 13th with double win

Nov 27th 3:31 PM
News

Lumiere Light Labs illuminates opportunities for artists

Nov 23rd 9:05 PM
Sport

Aycliffe clinch valuable away win

Nov 23rd 4:47 PM
Community

Students get a taste of Parisian culture during trip

Nov 23rd 12:22 PM
Sport

Aycliffe Running Club round-up

Nov 23rd 5:39 AM
Business

Events team charged to make their mark with awards event

Nov 22nd 8:11 PM
News

Bishop shines bright as AGLOW opens to visitors

Nov 22nd 12:45 PM
News

Preparatory works get underway for A167 upgrades at Newton Aycliffe

Nov 22nd 9:11 AM
Sport

NAFC Junior Section round-up

Nov 21st 1:55 PM
Community

Santa Claus is coming to town at PCP

Recommend
Follow @AycliffeToday
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Community
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Back to top
© Aycliffe Today 2019. All rights reserved.
Developed by Thrive

Get our latest news direct to your inbox every Friday - subscribe to our free e-newsletter today.

Subscribe Now