Collection Rate of 35p Feared For Every £1 of Council Tax Levied

One local authority is forecasting a collection rate of just 35p for every £1 of council tax that will be levied on new payers as a result of the Government's welfare reforms.   The Government is abolishing the current council tax benefit scheme – claimed by nearly 6 million people – where councils receive rebates on the financial support they provide. Instead, it has told them to come up with their own schemes from next April, cutting expenditure by 10% and handing them the money to administer it. However, it is the order to protect pensioners from cuts that will force some local authorities to seek minimum contributions from working-age households. This could see those who have never paid council tax previously asked to pay close to £200 a year. Read more on 24dash.