COUNCIL tax support for thousands of taxpayers in Bucks could start to be rolled out in a fortnight after plans to help residents were given the go-ahead.

Earlier this week, the Bucks Free Press reported proposals drawn up by Buckinghamshire Council to hand out tax breaks worth £150 would mean more than 13,000 taxpayers get support.

This comes after the government awarded £2.8 million to the new authority to support its most vulnerable residents during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Around £1.6 million of this ‘hardship fund’ will go towards supporting taxpayers already on the council tax reduction scheme.

Those on the scheme will automatically receive this tax break and will be sent new bills highlighting the £150 reduction.

The remaining £1.2 million will be available for individuals “on a case-by-case basis” who do not already get council tax reduction support but who are “experiencing hardship” due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Councillor Katrina Wood, Buckinghamshire Council’s resources boss, said: “This approach is the most effective way to target the available funds to where they are needed the most.

“It will also result in a large number of our most disadvantaged residents having to pay no council tax at all.

“This way we can target those most in need rather than generally refunding everyone regardless of their need or income.”

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This comes after a petition demanding the authority halts council tax collection for three months gathered more than 300 signatures after dozens told their stories of financial hardship since the lockdown began.

Council leader Martin Tett said he had been asked whether the remaining £1.2 million could be applied to all residents’ bills.

But he said with a county-wide population of around 600,000 — and a taxpayer population of approximately 230,000 — this would mean only a “small amount of money” would be taken off residents’ bills “regardless of if you’re a millionaire or on universal credit.”

A council officer said the £2.8 million has already been received from the government and new bills could start to be sent out in a fortnight once system software is updated.

Andy Green added: “As time goes on we will see further needs coming out particularly down the line.

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“Perhaps with council tax reminders, that’s when we need to have some funds available to be able to help people at that stage as well.

“Obviously we can’t see that at the current time.”

The council’s top team approved the support at a cabinet meeting on Thursday, April 30.