LOCAL AUTHORITY ACCUSED OF BRIBING VOTERS WITH COUNCIL TAX REBATE

FIRST PUBLISHED BY: THE TELEGRAPH

A LOCAL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF "ELECTION BRIBERY" AFTER PROMISING COUNCIL TAX REBATES TO ALMOST 30,000 BENEFITS CLAIMANTS, EVEN THOUGH THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY THE LEVY.

A local authority has been accused of "election bribery" after promising Council Tax rebates to almost 30,000 benefits claimants, even though they do not have to pay the levy. Wirral Borough Council has announced plans to hand back hundreds of thousands of pounds in overpaid Council Tax to residents after the Tories and Lib Dems seized control and cut its budget. However, it has emerged that even those who are fully exempt from Council Tax will receive the cash refunds, which are worth up to £66 per household.

Critics accused the council of trying to bribe voters ahead of the local elections next month. Councillor Phil Davies, leader of the opposition Labour group, said: "Perhaps the Tories haven't really thought this through, but to me it smacks of an election bribe. "If you get one hundred per cent Council Tax benefit, you don't pay any Council Tax at all, yet under the Tory scheme you will actually get a cash refund. "I don't think it's fair that if you don't pay any Council Tax you should get a cash handout."

Under the scheme, 29,000 households which do not currently pay any Council Tax will be eligible for £680,000 in cash rebates. The rebate for an average Band D property will be £44, while Band H households will receive £66. Band A households will get around £22. The money was pledged after a Conservative and Liberal Democrat cabinet replaced Labour running the council in March – just days before a budget was due to be fixed – and sliced it by 3 per cent. Councillor Jeff Green, the Tory leader of the council, rejected claims that the rebate was "unfair" saying it will help some of the poorest pensioners.

Cllr Green said: "We introduced it because the council had raised more than it needed and we were keen to cut Council Tax in that respect."The largest group on Council Tax benefits are the pensioners, but there is another group who come in and out of benefits. "We are mainly helping some of the poorest pensioners on the Wirral who will have worked and paid Council Tax for all of their lives.

"The council was in a shambles before we came in, especially in terms of the adult social services provided, so we are doing our bit to support people in need. "We are helping those that are on age-related benefit or move in and out of benefit. "This rebate will be applied to their Council Tax bills."

A Wirral Borough Council spokesman said: "Households who are liable for Council Tax who receive 100 per centCouncil Tax benefit will receive a refund later in the year providing they do not have any monies outstanding."No refunds have yet been made and we will look to see how this is best undertaken. We will ensure that any outstanding debts are met before any payments are made."

Labour had proposed a zero Council Tax increase and the Lib Dems recommended a flat £30 rebate to all Council Taxpayers, however, the Tories introduced a 3 per cent rebate.

READ WHAT: ERIC PICKLES ‘SECRETARY OF STATE’ SAYS ABOUT OVER-CHARGED COUNCIL TAX. 

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