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| Coronavirus: Town halls consider council tax payment help | Coronavirus: Town halls consider council tax payment help |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Vulnerable people and those most affected by the coronavirus outbreak are being offered help to pay their council tax. | Vulnerable people and those most affected by the coronavirus outbreak are being offered help to pay their council tax. |
| Support ranges from deferred payments to discounts for those on low incomes. | Support ranges from deferred payments to discounts for those on low incomes. |
| A petition on the Parliament website calling for council tax to be scrapped during the duration of the crisis has attracted almost 100,000 signatures. | A petition on the Parliament website calling for council tax to be scrapped during the duration of the crisis has attracted almost 100,000 signatures. |
| One council said it would be impossible to keep public services going if relief was applied "across the board". | One council said it would be impossible to keep public services going if relief was applied "across the board". |
| Deferred payments | Deferred payments |
| Annual bills are usually paid in 10 instalments over 12 months, from April to January. | Annual bills are usually paid in 10 instalments over 12 months, from April to January. |
| Under plans being drawn up by some town halls, residents will be able to defer their first payment until July. | Under plans being drawn up by some town halls, residents will be able to defer their first payment until July. |
| Councils offering a deferred payment include Manchester, Oldham, Stockport, Rochdale, Tameside, Trafford, Swindon and Wiltshire. | Councils offering a deferred payment include Manchester, Oldham, Stockport, Rochdale, Tameside, Trafford, Swindon and Wiltshire. |
| Not all councils are prepared to offer a deferred payment. | Not all councils are prepared to offer a deferred payment. |
| Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees said it was important to maintain Bristol City Council's finances during the crisis. | Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees said it was important to maintain Bristol City Council's finances during the crisis. |
| He said the authority was the only one out of the UK's core cities to retain a 100% council tax reduction scheme. | |
| Most large councils were already due to raise their bills by the full amount allowed before the pandemic struck. | Most large councils were already due to raise their bills by the full amount allowed before the pandemic struck. |
| Hardship fund | Hardship fund |
| Some councils said they would make use of a £500m hardship fund given by government to local authorities in England to help vulnerable people in their areas. | Some councils said they would make use of a £500m hardship fund given by government to local authorities in England to help vulnerable people in their areas. |
| Leeds and Worcester city councils said those already in receipt of working age council tax support can receive a one-off reduction of up to £150 this year. | Leeds and Worcester city councils said those already in receipt of working age council tax support can receive a one-off reduction of up to £150 this year. |
| Chelmsford City Council said if people were unable to pay council tax due on 8 April, they should contact banks directly to stop the payment. | Chelmsford City Council said if people were unable to pay council tax due on 8 April, they should contact banks directly to stop the payment. |
| Councillor Stephen Robinson, its leader, said: "It is not possible to apply a deferral across the board. | Councillor Stephen Robinson, its leader, said: "It is not possible to apply a deferral across the board. |
| "The vast majority of council tax is used to pay police officers and staff, firefighters, care home workers, home care providers, education support workers, and other staff who keep us all safe. | "The vast majority of council tax is used to pay police officers and staff, firefighters, care home workers, home care providers, education support workers, and other staff who keep us all safe. |
| "Applying relief across the board would make it impossible to keep public services going." | "Applying relief across the board would make it impossible to keep public services going." |
| Councillor Richard Watts, from the Local Government Association, said: "We are pleased that councils will now be able to provide much-needed support to many households on the lowest incomes by quickly reducing or removing the need for them to pay council tax." | Councillor Richard Watts, from the Local Government Association, said: "We are pleased that councils will now be able to provide much-needed support to many households on the lowest incomes by quickly reducing or removing the need for them to pay council tax." |
| Reporting team: Alex Homer, Daniel Wainwright, the Local Democracy Reporting Service | Reporting team: Alex Homer, Daniel Wainwright, the Local Democracy Reporting Service |
| Are you struggling to pay your monthly bill? Do you think more help should be offered? What do you think that should look like? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
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