Bedford Borough Council is seeking your opinions on the proposals to reduce the amount of financial support provided as part of the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme from 1 April 2027.
Why we are consulting
Bedford Borough Council is experiencing financial pressures and is seeking to review the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme to ensure that it remains affordable and continues to support the most vulnerable residents of the borough.
Bedford Borough Council, as a Council Tax billing authority, has a legal obligation to put in place a local Council Tax Reduction Scheme to provide Council Tax Reduction to working age households on a low income.
In the Bedford Borough Council area, around 10,300 people currently receive Council Tax Reduction, of those 7,067 are working age people.
The gross cost of the working age scheme is currently around £9.22m for 2026/2027, which is split between the Borough Council (83% at £7.65m) and the Fire and Police Authorities and Town/Parish Councils (17% at £1.57m).
The current Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme, which has been in place for a number of years, allows for discounts of up to 100% to be awarded to applicants for properties in Council Tax Bands A to D, and for up to 82% for properties in Council Tax Bands E to H.
How to have your say
Please respond online using the form below:
Respond to Council Tax Reduction Scheme consultation
What happens next
This consultation runs from 10 November to 21 December 2026.
The outcome of the consultation and recommendations will be considered in January 2027.