PROPOSALS to maintain Thurrock Council's local council tax support scheme were supported by the authority's corporate overview and scrutiny committee yesterday (Tuesday, 16 November).

The scheme (LCTS) gives Thurrock residents of working age, and who meet the criteria, an opportunity to reduce their council tax bill by up to 75 per cent.

Cabinet member for finance Cllr Shane Hebb said: "This scheme provides vital financial help to those that need it and we want to make sure it is available in its current form for the borough's residents next year.

"Our proposals ensure that working residents in economic difficulty are helped where help is possible. The first £25 per week of earned income will not be included when calculating support.

"We will also not include child benefit and maintenance payments to help families.

"Military compensation including war disablement pensions, war widow's pensions and armed forces compensation scheme payments will also not be included as part of income in our support calculations, meaning that those receiving them keep all this money without it affecting the level of council tax support they receive.

"We want to provide consistency of support and again propose to provide more than £8.5m of funding to support the scheme which helps some of the borough's most vulnerable residents."

Proposals will now go on to full council for a decision in the new year.