CHANGES to Council Tax discounts that could have cost struggling working families as much as £180 a year have been stopped for the time being.

The Conservative administration on the Forest of Dean District Council wanted to make the changes to bring the authority in line with new-look housing benefit and universal credit rules.

But the proposals to deny new claimants the £17.45 ‘family premium’ for calculating Council Tax support from next May and to reduce the period for backdated claims from six months to four weeks drew a furious reaction from opposition councillors.

The council’s Cabinet member for finance, Cllr Richard Boyles (Con, Westbury and Newnham) said Council Tax was subsidised by around £4.5 million and the maximum that those affected would have to pay would be £3.49 a week.

He said: “I must stress the following people will not be affected: existing claimants with children, new Council Tax support customers getting benefits such as Job Seekers’ Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance or people on Income Support.”

He added that not making the changes to come in line with those being made by the government would mean the council paying around £10,000 for new computer software.

The council’s best guess is that of the existing 3,000 working-age claimants between 40 and 50 could be affected because of a change in circumstances.

Labour councillor Bruce Hogan (Lydbrook and Ruardean) said: “£3.49 – the price of a pint of beer in most pubs – doesn’t sound much but it’s actually £181.50 a year.

“If we told the public we were putting up their Council Tax by £181.50 a year there would be mayhem.

“We are saying to some of the poorest we are going to take an extra £181.50 in Council Tax from some of the working poor.

“As to backdating new claims, if people fall on hard times then the last thing on their minds might be they’ve got to claim Council Tax benefit.

“Are we going to be that mean that we are not going to let them come to terms with their new circumstances?

“This is about screwing down on the poorest and most vulnerable in our society and it stinks.”

The council has also moved to raise awareness of a consultation on the proposals which was only available on the authority’s website.

Cllr Richard Leppington (Blakeney and Bream) said: “Cost seems to be the driver over doing the right thing.”

But deputy leader of the council, Cllr Brian Robinson (Con, Mitcheldean) said councillors should consider the practicalities of not having a scheme in place as required by the end of January.

He said: “ In order to continue paying this amount we would have to invest an amount several times greater in software to pay out a smaller amount to the community. That doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

The council’s most senior legal officer, Claire Hughes, said although a scheme had to be in place by the end of January, it could be changed later.

Councillors agreed to stick with the current scheme. The consultation runs until Monday, January 4 and comments can be made by e-mailing [email protected] or by writing to the benefits section, Forest of Dean Council, Coleford, GL16 8HG.