OXFORD City Council has agreed to help low income households with the cost of council tax by retaining 100 per cent support.

The council passed its 2020/21 council tax reduction (CTR) scheme on Monday, making it one of a few English councils continuing to provide full support with council tax costs for working age CTR claimants.

Councils have been responsible for drawing up their own CTR schemes since the abolition of national council tax benefit for working age people in April 2013.

At the same time, the government began phasing out its revenue support grant for local authorities and the council now carries the full cost of its CTR scheme.

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Councillor Marie Tidball, cabinet member for supporting local communities, said: "Oxford City Council is one of a small handful of councils to retain our council tax reduction scheme at 100 per cent for working age households.

"This demonstrates our commitment to preventing homelessness and our support for financially vulnerable people in our communities.

"The 100 per cent discount benefits more than 1,000 households in Oxford."