Luton to cut council tax reduction for 2,000 claimants in favour of extra support with employment, skills and childcare

The new scheme was approved by the council's executive committee on February 3.

It means some households will have to pay more council tax, with the offer of additional help to access employment, skills training and childcare.

The 6,000 pensioners already claiming council tax reduction will not be affected by these changes, while around 2,000 of the 7,000 current working age claimants will be impacted.

The council will email those affected by the end of February to let them know more about the assistance available.

The scheme is expected to accrue £1.2m in savings, with £400,000 ring-fenced as corporate savings to help balance the council's budget. £150,000 will be invested in extra staff to manage the support schemes the council plans to put in place.

Cllr Andy Malcolm, portfolio holder for finance at Luton Borough Council, said: “This is about supporting residents with low incomes to improve their own financial situations.

"We will do this by offering a whole range of support including childcare, training and budget management services.

“During the consultation we conducted last summer, residents clearly told us they supported the proposed measures provided this package of support was in place – we have listened, and this is what we are doing."

“If anyone has concerns about how they could be affected by this change, I would urge them to visit our website - which will be going live with updated advice and information from 1 March.

“For more information, advice or to make use of publicly available computers, visit the Luton Access team at Luton Central Library and ask for help at the reception.”

At the council's scrutiny finance review meeting last month, Labour Round Green Cllr Tahmina Saleem supported the initiative.

Cllr Saleem said: "I really welcome this scheme. The residents in my ward will benefit from it."

For more information, the council website www.luton.gov.uk/benefits will be updated with full details of the scheme from March 1.

In the meantime, residents can also seek information and advice from the Luton Access team at Luton Central Library, as well as make use of publicly available computers, by asking for help at the reception.