An East Devon councillor says he was reminded of 'A Christmas Carol' when reading the reasons some people gave for opposing changes to a council tax reduction scheme.

At a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the district council agreed a series of council tax reduction (CTR) changes to help people in arrears during the cost-of-living crisis.

Yarty ward councillor Paul Hayward made his comments after some public consultation respondents objected to discounted council taxes.

He said those against the proposals should show more compassion.

Currently, 18% of households in tax arrears in East Devon are of working age, up from 13% in 2019 before the start of the Covid pandemic.

It was decided that the council should cover 100% of council tax for Band A households – up from 85% – and matching the discount already being applied by North Devon, East Devon and Teignbridge.

The council agreed that self-employed people who work at least 16 hours per week are entitled to support, in line with Universal Credit. 

This means people who are self-employed who do not work more than 16 hours a week due to caring responsibilities are covered under the scheme.

Devon Fire and Rescue Service, and Devon and Cornwall Police, both supported the scheme, although Devon County Council objected on the grounds that it was forecast to cost the council more than half a million pounds.

Of the 178 members of the public who responded to a six-week consultation, 25 were "very against" the planned council tax reductions for eligible people.

Some respondents felt that discounting taxes based on low income did not "incentivise working", and that cases involving self-employed workers should be considered using their actual income, rather than the hours they worked.

Cllr Paul Hayward (Independent East Devon Alliance, Yarty) asked that those against the proposal show a little more compassion.

"It reads like watching the first 10 minutes of 'A Christmas Carol' over and over again," he said. 

"And it appears that the milk of human kindness has just curdled for some of these people who respond.

"It's just astonishing that… we are simply attempting to help those most vulnerable people who have the least, who are struggling."