Counting the Cost of Voting Reform: County Durham Residents Set to See 100% Council Tax Support Cut...
- teessidetoday
- Nov 13
- 3 min read
Changes to Durham County Councils Council Tax Support Scheme which offered the only 100% discount in the region set to be cut, as the Reform UK led council wields the axe.
13th November 2025
Local residents living in County Durham are counting the cost of voting reform, after its been revealed some of the lowest income households will soon be forced to start paying council tax for the first time, as the council looks to slash support for low-income households.
Durham County Council is poised to approve major changes to its Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS) — meaning those currently exempt from paying would have to start contributing 10% of their bill as from April 2026.
The scheme, which has been in place since 2013, was one of the most generous schemes in the Teesside & County Durham region, helping working-age residents on low incomes with discounts on their council tax. Right now, its claimed about 31,200 people benefit from it, and around 84% pay nothing at all thanks to DCC's full relief.
But under the new plans, all that would come to an end in just months, after its claimed from April 2026, even the areas poorest-income residents would have to pay at least 10% of their annual council tax bill, something campaigners claim will see a deluge of claimants being hauled before courts under mounting cost of living pressures.
Durham County Council says it wants to move to an “income-banded system” to make the scheme simpler and cheaper to run, especially as more people move onto Universal Credit. Officials claim this change would also reduce the need to send out multiple revised bills every time someone’s income changes.
However, critics say the move would hit the most vulnerable the hardest.
Its claimed a public consultation on the proposed changes running from from July to September this year received 1,856 responses, with around 30% of those stating support should stay at 100%, but most respondents backed a 75% cap instead, however those figures have been widely disputed as 'inaccurate' due to claims online consultations can be easily manipulated to 'skew' the results in a petitioners favour.
DCC claims the cost of running the current scheme has ballooned from £52.4 million last year to £66.2 million this year — a rise of nearly £14 million, however critics blame this on the huge increase of migrants being awarded Universal Credit thus increasing the Council Tax support bill even further.
Durham County Council also claims it’s being forced into tough decisions due to a growing £72.8 million budget black hole, with £19 million of that expected to fall in 2026/27 alone, this is despite pledges previously from the Reform led council to drive out council wasteful spending through a DOGE style audit of the councils finances, something many claim "simply hasn't materialised"....
Deputy council leader Cllr Darren Grimes attempted to defend the proposals, echoing statements previously made by officials at nearby Hartlepool Borough Council year on year, claiming the pressures are largely out of the council’s control:
“These cost pressures are being driven by national factors and government legislation. We’ve made a strong case for extra funding, but as things stand, the council faces an uncertain financial future — forcing very difficult decisions between service cuts and council tax increases.”
Durham Council’s Cabinet is expected to approve the proposals on November 19, with a final vote at a Full Council Meeting sometime in December, leaving locals just weeks to get to grips with another bill, on top of the already spiralling cost of living crisis.
What’s Being Proposed:
The new council tax support scheme will Introduce an income-banded system for working-age claimants (from April 2026), Reduce maximum support from 100% to 90%, Abolish Second Adult Rebate for working-age residents, Set a flat £10 weekly deduction for all non-dependants (regardless of earnings), Lower the capital limit from £16,000 to £10,000, bringing the scheme largely inline with whats offered across most councils in the region, as Durham Councils long envied 100% scheme prepares to be axed.... for good !
And voters asking the Question,
Was this really what we voted for ?
