Residents in Gloucester who rely on the city’s council tax support scheme face uncertainty as local government reorganisation looms. Gloucester City Council currently offers some of the most generous council tax assistance in the county, providing working-age individuals on low incomes with up to a 100% reduction on their council tax bills.
At present, 5,164 working-age residents benefit from this scheme, alongside 2,461 pensioners who also receive council tax support. It’s important to note that the support given to pensioners is governed nationally by the Government and is not expected to be affected by the changes.
The potential threat to this vital support comes amid plans to merge Gloucestershire’s County Council with its district councils into either a single or split unitary authority. Declan Wilson, the resources cabinet member for Hucclecote, expressed concern about the future of Gloucester’s generous scheme.
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“Gloucester’s support for those struggling with council tax is the most generous in Gloucestershire. With the move to a single unitary authority, I doubt this level of support would survive,” Wilson stated. “Likewise, our strong housing benefit support might not continue in the same form.”
Gloucester City Council confirmed that local authorities must agree on a support scheme for working-age residents, while pensioner support continues to be nationally mandated.
Three main proposals for reorganisation are currently under consideration. These include forming one single unitary council for the entire county, dividing Gloucestershire into east and west unitary authorities, or establishing a Greater Gloucester unitary council separate from the rest of the county—a plan backed by Gloucester City Council.
Councillors across Gloucestershire are set to discuss these options in the coming months. The final proposal will be submitted to the Government by November 28, with a public consultation expected early next year. A decision by ministers is anticipated by summer, aiming for elections to the new authorities in May 2027 and full transition by April 2028.
The fate of Gloucester’s council tax support scheme remains uncertain as key decisions on local governance are made, leaving thousands of vulnerable residents anxious about the future.