West Sussex County Council has been allocated up to £3million by the government to help support households which are struggling to pay council tax.
The money, in the form of a discretionary discount, will knock up to £150 from the bills of people who claim council tax reduction relief but still need a little extra help.
The council was allocated the same amount last year in an effort to help those experiencing financial pressures during the pandemic.
The seven district and borough councils in West Sussex will now be able to hand out the discounts once again.
Jeremy Hunt, cabinet member for finance, said:
“The council tax hardship scheme, which is managed through our district and borough colleagues, has been a great success this year.
“I am very pleased that we are able to continue to offer support to those in need through our commitment of up to a further £3m in order to extend the scheme for another year.”
The on-going need for the discount was raised by Horsham Liberal Democrats during a meeting of the district council’s cabinet last week, days before the second year of funding was announced.
With more than 3,000 households in the district expected to qualify for help, Martin Boffey (Lib Dem, Trafalgar) shared his concerns that the discount was not included in the current budget.
But a spokesman for the district council confirmed that an addendum was to be added to the budget papers – which are due to be approved on Wednesday (February 9) – now that the government funding has been confirmed.
The county council’s budget for 2022/23 is due to be approved during a meeting of the full council on Friday February 18.
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