COUNCIL tax reforms “forced” on a local authority will hit the poorest in society, councillors fear.

Calderdale Council Cabinet members have put out to consultation their proposals for the Localised Council Tax Support scheme.

All local authorities need to draw up a scheme to administer council tax support from next April.

Calderdale’s Cabinet this week announced their plans – but were unanimous in their opposition to the Government’s idea.

For the 2013/14 year the council intends to continue with the current system, meaning they face a shortfall of £600,000 to be met by their own funds.

In 2014/15 they’ve drawn up proposals they will now put out to consultation which include:

Capping council tax support at Band D, which affects 108 households and will cost each up to £352 per year.

Removing non-dependent deduction exemption for claimants with Disability Living Allowance, affecting 239 people and costing them £335 a year.

Changes to council tax support for those with capital – it would cost those with £3,000 or more (188 people) £707 a year.

A means-tested support for those earning above the minimum living/needs level, affecting 1,736 households, costing each person £244.

Taper relief for those earning above the minimum living level, affecting more than 1,910 people, which will cost each person between £77 or £183 per year.

It takes into account “assumed” council tax increases of 3.5% each year.

No decision has yet been made on what the council will do.

Clr Pauline Nash, Cabinet Member for Communities said: “It is the first significant piece of work that this council will do that, I suggest, we are not happy doing.

“We are required by the Government to implement this scheme from April 2013 and it will replace the Government’s current council tax scheme.

“The council tax support funding will come from the Government in a form of an unringfenced grant, that will be 10% less than the cost of the current council tax benefit scheme

“As I understand it, that figure is changing weekly, it could be as much as 14% or 15%.

“The Government is saying that people of pensionable age will be taken out of this equation and will still get the council tax benefit that they currently enjoy, albeit there may be reductions.

“It will impact on the very poorest on our society.”

The Government has indicated that the grant to Calderdale could be around £12.4m, but the council has had to put money aside to subsidise a predicted shortfall – up to £2.1m by 2015/16.

Clr Robert Metcalfe added: “This has come at an unfair time for many. When you look at the financial implications, this council is taking a much bigger hit than we were led to believe.

“It is going to have a massive impact on the poorest in our borough.”

Clr Barry Collins said the council was having to find £1.6m to “cushion the blow” in 2014/15 and added: “This has come from the Government but the council takes the blame.

“The council is being forced to implement this, we are trying to cushion the blow but we can’t go on doing it.”