Boston Council Reduces Tax Support for Families

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.