South Hams Council is looking for feedback on new welfare reforms

The council is now beginning an eight-week consultation to allow residents of all ages to have their say about how they wish their council to spend a shrinking pot of money when they implement their own scheme to replace council tax benefit after its abolition by the Government next April.

It is proposed that all working age people who are currently receiving council tax benefit in the district will be expected, from next April, to pay a minimum of 30 per cent towards their council tax. The move is expected to affect around 2,800 households in the South Hams although pensioners will be protected from the changes.

The Government has tasked councils across the country to design their own localised replacement to council tax benefit which will now be called the council taxsupport scheme. On Monday, the council is started its consultation so people can have their say on its draft scheme. Consultation ends on October 1.

A questionnaire is on the council's website for residents to tell the council how they would like their money spent.

Not all households in the district will be directly affected and councils in Devon are working together to limit the impact on hard-pressed families and individuals.

In the South Hams, all affected households will receive a letter about the changes in the coming weeks and will have an opportunity to comment on the scheme. Pensioners will not be affected.

Cllr John Tucker, leader of the council, said: 'The funding shortfall presents South Hams Council with difficult decisions.

'We want to work with residents to identify the most vulnerable people and try to reduce the impact on them. It's important that people have their say on these changes and we aim to design a local council tax support scheme that is as simple and fair as possible.'

Advisers will be available at our South Hams Connect events to help explain the changes:

August

Tuesday 14: Village Hall, Rattery ,10am -noon .

Wednesday 15: Sainsbury's , Dartmouth, 10.30am-1pm

Wednesday 22: Quayside Leisure Centre, Kingsbridge, 11am- 3pm.

September

Tuesday 18: Kingsbridge market, The Quay, 8.30am-4pm.

Wednesday 19: Sainsbury's, Dartmouth, 10.30am-1pm.

Thursday 20: Ivybridge market, Glanvilles Mill car park, 8.30am-4pm.

Friday 21: Totnes market, Market Square, 8.30am-4pm.

For further information call South Hams Council on 01803 861234.