Boston Borough Council has made the decision to decrease council tax support for local families facing financial struggles. The new structure grants lone parents up to 90% support, couples with children up to 80%, and all other households a maximum of 75% relief. However, pensioners’ support will not be hindered by these adjustments. Prior to this, some working-age households were entitled to complete tax relief, while others were given up to an 85% decrease.
Finance Portfolio Holder, Councillor Sandeep Ghosh, rationalised the strategy as a way to protect vulnerable citizens whilst also striving to preserve a balanced budget. Councillor Anne Dorrian, formerly the council leader, supported the prior scheme which offered 100% support, emphasising its significant positive effect on individuals undergoing financial hardship.
The council took note of a report which showed that around 30% of Boston’s children are part of households with relative low income. The modifications are projected to allow the borough council to save approximately £45,000 in the financial year 2025-26, having an impact on 2,445 cases of working-age claimants. As a result, solo parent households will face an average £2 reduction every week, while households with children and two parents will be worse off by £5 weekly.
A public consultation involved 65 participants, of which 43% were in agreement with the cuts, yet only 18% were in favour of the adopted option. The Progressive Independents Boston party, being the council’s leaders, recorded that 35% of respondents were in support of the current scheme.
Credit is due to The Lincoln Post for adapting this story, which was initially reported on by www.bbc.com.
