Lincoln council has postponed updates to its council tax support due to software delays affecting implementation
Lincoln: So, the council has hit the brakes on those changes to council tax support. Apparently, the software they need just isn’t ready yet. This support helps about 5,600 working-age folks in the city manage their council tax payments.
They were thinking about switching to a banded system, where the help you get would depend on your earnings. Some people would see an increase in support, while others might get less. It was meant to be simpler and easier to understand.
Even though there was some political backing for the change, the software supplier couldn’t deliver in time for the 2025/26 financial year. The council’s report mentioned that the new system could be more efficient, but it just didn’t pan out.
Lincolnshire County Council and Lincolnshire Police were on board since they also benefit from the council tax collected. But interestingly, about two-thirds of the public preferred to keep things as they are during the consultation.
On Monday, the executive committee decided to push the changes to next year. Right now, Lincoln Council is missing out on about 14% of its council tax revenue because of this support scheme, which is around £1.3 million—way higher than the average 8% for councils in England.
During the meeting, executive members praised the ongoing support. Councillor Joshua Wells mentioned how great it is that they offer one of the highest rates compared to nearby councils. Leader Naomi Tweddle added that they’ll keep focusing on this issue to show their commitment to tackling inequality.
Good news for pensioners, though! Their council tax support is protected by law, and the council will still run an Exceptional Hardship Scheme for those facing serious financial struggles.
