Waltham Forest council has made a U-turn on plans to cut council tax support for some of the borough’s poorest residents.

The local authority had proposed to reduce the council tax discounts given to those claiming benefits and on low incomes from a maximum of 76 per cent to 60 per cent.

The scheme had come under criticism from Waltham Forest Trades Council, which described it as “an unjustified attack on the poorest” living in the borough.

The council ran a six-week consultation on the plans from August until October this year.

Close to 400 people responded to the consultation, with 56 per cent opposing the council’s plans. Of those receiving council tax support, 72 per cent were against the cuts.

As a result of the survey, council officers have now recommended keeping the council tax support cap at 76 per cent.

A report into the decision found cutting the reductions offered would have had a “disproportionate impact on women as a group particularly those not in employment”.

The report concluded: “The updated financial position and revised forecast indicates that the cost of the scheme from April 2017 is likely to be lower than originally estimated.

“As a consequence it is possible to propose a more generous scheme than the preferred option consulted on and maintain the self-funding objective.”

The council’s cabinet will vote on whether to approve the recommendations at a meeting next Tuesday (December 6).

If approved, plans will then be subject to a full council vote.