A new council tax support scheme which will replace the current council tax benefit in St Albans will be discussed at a public meeting next week.

Currently, the government reimburses the council for 100 percent of the amount of council tax benefit paid to claimants.
 

New proposals suggest the council will be given a specific sum by the government to make support payments, which is expected to be to be 90 percent of the amount that is currently processed under council tax benefit.

Under this new scheme, working age vulnerable groups will be protected.
 

Councillor Brian Ellis, portfolio holder for housing for the council, said: “In August, the Council invited more than 6,000 residents, including 5,000 council tax benefit claimants, to take part in a survey about this proposed scheme.
 

“We are grateful to everyone who responded and are pleased with the response rate of 21.5 percent.
 

“We also conducted two focus groups, one comprising local voluntary groups and the other claimants.
 

“Cabinet will now consider the proposed scheme in the light of the feedback we have received.”

The public meeting will take place on Thursday, 18, October in the council’s offices at the Civic Centre, St Peter’s Street from 7pm where feedback will be received following a consultation on a proposed new system of council tax discounts.