PEOPLE who cannot afford to pay council tax will have to pay more towards their bills from 2018.

Councils in England support people on low incomes by paying part or all of their council tax bills through their local council tax reduction schemes.

Each council has the power to decide how much support they offer to claimants and must reassess that decision every year before the end of January.

At a heated meeting at the Town Hall yesterday (January 19), when accusations of being “intellectually bankrupt” and “screwing over the borough’s poorest” flew back and forth across the chamber, Redbridge Council voted on its council tax reduction scheme for the next two years.

Leader of the Redbridge Liberal Democrats Cllr Ian Bond proposed an amendment to the Labour group’s proposal to restrict council tax support to 80 per cent in 2017/18.

Seconded by his colleague Cllr Gwyneth Deakins, Cllr Bond urged his fellow councillors to support his proposal of keeping council tax support at 85 per cent.

He said: “These proposals will have a highly-adverse impact on the 11,000 deprived families in this borough.”

Redbridge Conservative leader Cllr Paul Canal also proposed changes to the Labour group’s proposals, imploring councillors to consider funding 85 per cent council tax support payments for people on disability benefits and their partners at a cost of £88,000.

Seconded by Cllr Robert Cole he also suggested 85 per cent support payments for lone parents with children under the age of 11 at a cost of £97,000.

The Tories agreed with Labour’s proposals of restricting most payments to 80 per cent in 2017/18 and maintaining a discretionary hardship fund for those desperately struggling to pay council tax bills.

After both opposition amendments were voted down, cabinet member for finance Cllr Kam Rai proposed an amendment to his own party’s proposals.

He said: “Although the scheme already disregards disability-related income when we calculate entitlement, and the council has committed to funding for jobs, employment and skills, it is clear those with disabilities can face other obstacles.”

Seconded by the leader Cllr Jas Athwal, Cllr Rai proposed amending the proposed council tax reduction scheme by offering 85 per cent support to people on Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance or Personal Independent Payments (PIP) and their partners.

All other working age claimants will have their council tax support restricted to 80 per cent in 2017/18, with a discretionary hardship fund still available for those really struggling.

Redbridge Labour cited "unprecedented financial challenges" as the main reason for decreasing council tax support.

Cllr Rai’s amended proposals were voted in unanimously by the council.

Pensioners will not be affected by the changes, but working age claimants will see their council tax bills go up by approximately £56 a year.