THE CONTROVERSIAL council tax support scheme in York could be changed in next few months after labyrinthine arguments at a meeting last night saw councillors finally agree to a key review before a crucial deadline.

Last night the Labour councillors who implemented the Council Tax Support scheme admitted it needed to be changed, and asked the new Liberal Democrat and Conservative teams running the council to make changes by the next financial year.

Cllr Neil Barnes, who brought the motion, said that he was not hiding from the fact a review had already been agreed, but said he wanted to make sure changes are made in time for the January deadline set by government.

York man Peter Priestly told the meeting of his own experience with the council tax scheme.

He said under the previous scheme he paid nothing in council tax, receiving in benefits the minimum amount the government said he needed to live on.   

With the introduction of the new, harsher, scheme, he began to pay £300 a year but saw no other costs of living fall meaning he had to find the extra cash at the expense of rent, heating bills, or food bills.

He said: “I realise that in the current climate we all have to pay something, but what I don’t agree with is that claimants in York have to pay 60 to 70 percent more than anywhere else. That is totally unfair. If I lived in Kirklees I would pay around a third of what I pay here.”

The national council tax benefit scheme was axed in 2013 and responsibility passed to local councils.

The local replacement set up by York council made everyone pay at least 30 percent of their council tax, although a Government rule meant pensioners had to be exempt, but other councils set a much lower minimum payment.

Campaigner Richard Bridge told the members that as many as 14,383 people had fallen into arrears on their council tax since its inception.

The debate among councillors was characterised by party political arguments, with the Liberal Democrat leader Keith Aspden putting forward an amendment which outlined the Labour group’s hand in implementing the scheme.

Cllr Ann Reid, a Liberal Democrat, said she was “incensed” to see the Labour councillors attempt to “rewrite history” and take credit for a review which was already in place.

She said the party had “pushed through” the 30 percent rule in the face of objections when they were “too busy trying to make a political point against the government.”

Responding, the Labour leader Dafydd Williams said his group had not sought to hide their part in the policy.

“I voted for something that I wish I had not voted for.

“I sense there is some consensus around this and all parties want to help people who are affected by this.”

Eventually, a motion was passed by Conservative and Liberal Democrat support which says the review will be addressed at an earlier October meeting – as had been asked for - but with Labour members abstaining.