Having no money in hard times left a Lancaster woman depending on vegetables dropped on a market floor to get by.
Keeping the existing scheme will have no impact on the council’s financial forecast, a report to councillors stated before the meeting. But the full council has to approve the support each year. Her story came as the council debated whether to continue, change or end the council tax support scheme for households in special need. Labour Coun Anne Whitehead, a member of the multi-party cabinet, said: “The cost-of-living crisis hits lower-income families because things such as rent and food costs take-up a greater proportion of their money. This council tax support helps reduce the burden.”
Conservative Coun Joan Jackson said: “The city council has a contingency fund for people in dire straits. Could that be used to help with council tax?” He added: “We all want to help people in need but we cannot do everything. I want to provide the best front-line services for the people we represent. For that, everybody should pay into it. I don’t want to see front-line staff losing their jobs because there isn’t enough money.”