YORK should urgently change its benefits policies to protect the city's most vulnerable residents, campaigners have said.

Advice York, a group of support and advice agencies, called on the city council's new Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition to introduce a more flexible council tax support system.

The group renewed its calls for a review of the system in York, which is stricter than most in the country, after it emerged that most of the two-year anti-poverty targets set in York in 2013 had been missed.

Rebecca Jeffrey, Advice York's research and campaign coordinator said: “It is disappointing to see that the anti-poverty targets for York have been missed. But, now is the perfect opportunity for the new council administration to show its commitment to financial inclusion in the city.

"Reviewing council tax support and bringing it in line with the rest of England gives the opportunity for the council to directly help some of York’s poorest residents, giving them the money to afford the essentials they need such as food and electricity.”

All councils introduced a council tax support system after the Government abolished the old council tax benefit system in April 2013. Councils had their funding cut by ten per cent and were told pensioners should be exempt from any cuts.

In York, all residents of working age must now pay a minimum of 30 per cent of their council tax, regardless of their income or ability to pay, but Advice York says the average across England is only 13 per cent and says independent research has identified York's scheme as the worst for claimants.

York Citizens' Advice Bureau has reported a 65 per cent rise in a year in the number of people seeking help due to council tax arrears, and Advice York say City of York Council's high tax collection rate masks a high cost to many residents.

When Advice York first called for a rethink last October, the city council rejected many of its claims.

Ian Floyd, the council's director of customer and business support services, said the council was not in a position to plug the funding gaps created by the Government, and said the council had done a lot to minimise the impact on residents, including investing £300,000 over three years to develop an inclusive financial support network with other organisations. He said the council had put more money into the York Financial Assistance Scheme, with a £200,000 contribution for 2014/15.

Susan Wood, Advice York partnership coordinator, said council tax support was one area where the council could help people in need. She said people paid council tax over other commitments, because of the large legal consequences of non-payment, but said they were struggling to afford bare essentials as a result.