Thousands of struggling families will not have to pay council tax under an enduring financial support scheme described as an "absolute godsend".

Councillors were united in hailing Durham's council tax reduction scheme which is unique regionally in still matching the old council tax benefits.

Durham County Council is the only authority in the North East and one of a few in the country still offering such a level of help to council taxpayers on low incomes.

Council tax reduction schemes replaced council tax benefits which were abolished in 2013, but most councils have stopped running them at the same level.

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The council's resources director Paul Darby said: "Durham County Council is the only council in the North East and one of only a handful of councils nationally to continue to provide this level of protection, with around 80% of the current 34,000 working age claimants receiving 100% support and having no council tax bill to pay."

Councillors agreed at a full council meeting on Wednesday (October 19) to extend the scheme unchanged into 2023 to 2024.

Councillor Richard Bell, deputy council leader and cabinet member for finance, said: "In agreeing to the proposals we will remain the only council in the North East to have a scheme that continues to provide support equal to that which was available under the old council tax benefit scheme.

"And I think that we should be proud as a council we continue to support what is such an important benefit for people across this county.

The Northern Echo: Cllr Richard Bell. Picture: Sarah Caldecott.Cllr Richard Bell. Picture: Sarah Caldecott.

"The scheme targets support at those who need it most, which is surely a sound principle at all levels of government.

"We must, however, recognise that this decision comes at a cost in terms of lost council tax revenue compared with virtually every other council in the country.

"But clearly it is the right decision for next year, particularly in the light of the squeeze on household income and budgets at this time.

"As always we will need to review this position in a year's time."

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Cllr Alan Shield, cabinet member for equality and inclusion, said the scheme kept support for vulnerable and disadvantaged households and staff worked "tirelessly" to deal with increasing applications in the last year.

He said: "The level of protection afforded to working age claimants, many of whom are in work but suffering from low wages and all of whom will be facing a squeeze on household incomes as a result of high inflation, increases in interest rates and the cost of living rise, has been an absolute godsend.

The Northern Echo: Cllr Alan Shield. Picture: Sarah Caldecott.Cllr Alan Shield. Picture: Sarah Caldecott.

"Whilst this obviously comes at a cost of foregone council tax revenues, now is most certainly not the time to consider making changes to our scheme."

Cllr Angela Surtees said: "I'm really pleased and very very proud of this scheme. It was a Labour-introduced initiative under the previous administration, which is us. There's lots of people out there that need help and support."

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