Council mulls cutting council tax for poorest

The consultation will end on 30 September

A council in East Sussex is considering plans to reduce council tax for some of the poorest members of the community.

However, Eastbourne Borough Council said the proposals would mean it would need to look for areas to reduce spending and generate income.

If the changes are adopted it would result in a reduction of more than £114,000 in tax owed to the council every year.

A public consultation on the proposals will end on 30 September.

The council's proposed scheme would reduce council tax bills for the worst-off working-age people, or those on the lowest incomes.

It would also remove the minimum income floor for the self-employed and there would be no minimum award value.

To offset the potential loss of income, the council said it would need to look for areas to reduce spending and generate income.

Council leader Stephen Holt said: "Like many local authorities across the UK, we are managing huge financial challenges."

The cost of the scheme would be shared between Eastbourne Borough Council, East Sussex County Council, Sussex Police, and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service in proportion to their share of council tax.