To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to provide funding to councils for the provision of payment holidays and forbearance for households unable to pay council tax due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered on
20 May 2020
Council tax plays a vital role in funding the delivery of essential frontline services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each council has its own local council tax support scheme which provides reductions in council tax for low income residents. The Government has also provided a £500m hardship fund to enable councils to provide further council tax relief. Councils have powers to implement alternative payment arrangements locally and many have used these to help individuals who are struggling to pay.