YORK residents will from next week have the chance to air their views on controversial proposals to change council tax benefits.

The Government’s planned abolition of the current scheme will see councils across the country given a fixed amount of annual funding from next April to help vulnerable people with their bills.

But City of York Council has warned it will be left with a £1.3 million shortfall in 2013/14.

The authority says this could mean cuts to services or withdrawing support from some claimants, and a consultation exercise will begin on Monday and run until November 4.

Councils across North Yorkshire have written to Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles criticising the proposals, which they say will lead to less council tax benefit assistance being available for disabled and unemployed people and those on low incomes in future years.

Coun Julie Gunnell , York council’s cabinet member for corporate services, said: “Despite Government funding reductions, we are committed to providing support for our most vulnerable residents while keeping any changes fair across the board,”

The questionnaire will be available at york.gov.uk/consultation and will include information and calculators for residents to see how their benefits might change from next April.

Meetings on the issue will be held at the Mansion House between 3pm and 4pm on August 28, between 2pm and 3pm on August 30 and October 8, and between 2.30pm and 3.30pm on October 9.

Guildhall meetings will be staged between 6pm and 7pm on August 29 and between 6.15pm and 7.15pm on October 10, and similar community events will be publicised on the council’s website.