'Put up council tax' to help Liverpool poor, say Greens

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson should put council tax up as a way of protecting the poor, says the city's Green Party leader

Council tax in Liverpool should increase by up to 5% in order to help the poorest residents, the leader of the Green Party in the city has said.

Tom Crone called for the rise as the council announced proposals to cut support for low-income families.

The Labour-run local authority is expected to back changes to its Council Tax Support scheme - which costs £3m a year - when it meets on Friday.

The council says its central government funding has been cut by 58% since 2010.

Mr Crone said the financial pain should be shared more widely, rather than being concentrated on society's most vulnerable people.

'Catch-up tax'

He said: "We're dismayed to hear that some of the poorest households in the city may see a further drop in their living standards.

"Liverpool's council tax has been frozen for long periods or increased slightly, and over the last 10 years it has fallen below inflation.

"We've long advocated a 'catch-up' tax, with the first tranche of that being used to protect the poorest, but that's been ignored by successive Labour and Lib Dem councils."

The council scheme currently limits the amount low paid households have to pay to 8.5% of their total Council Tax bill.

Under the proposed changes, that would rise to 20%. For a family in a Band A property, this could see their bill go up from £91 to £215 a year.

Richard Kemp, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Liverpool, branded the proposals "premature" and said the council should wait to see how much money it is given by Whitehall before making any decisions.

He said: "I wonder whether there's some sabre-rattling too. Liverpool Council has got a record of saying it will have to do terrible things, such as close all the children's centres or libraries, only to later say 'look what we were able to keep'."

The proposals are due to be considered by the council's ruling cabinet on Friday before going out to consultation.

A Liverpool City Council spokesman said: "This report is asking the cabinet to consult on reviewing this policy given the 58% cut in our government funding, and the fact we are likely to face further significant reductions in the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.

"However, we are continuing to lobby government over a fairer funding deal for Liverpool."