Moves to reform "Bedroom Tax" welcomed

Cllr Michael Mullaney Hinckley and Bosworth's Executive member for Housing has welcomed moves that will see changes to the spare room subsidy or "Bedroom Tax"

"At last years Lib Dem conference I spoke in favour of scrapping the Bedroom Tax.

"In theory it was a good idea and the New Labour Government of course had already stopped providing the spare room subsidy for tenants who rented in the private sector. But it ignored the reality there are just not enough smaller council houses for people to move into. From Thatcher onwards, Labour and Conservative Governments simply stopped building Council Houses, so today there just aren't the Council Houses for people hit by the "Bedroom Tax" to move into.

"Many of those hit by the bedroom tax are disabled people. It is an unfair 'tax' and it should be scrapped. When you take into account all the extra bureaucracy and costs created by the Bedroom Tax it is causing a lot of pain without even saving much money.

"I am glad that the Lib Dem leadership now accept there is a need to change the Bedroom Tax. People who need a spare bedroom for medical reasons should no longer be penalised and people will only have to pay the Bedroom Tax if they refuse an offer of a suitable smaller property. Conservative Ministers however say they are opposed to these common sense changes.

"These reforms are long overdue and I welcome them. In the meantime, until we can get the Conservatives to agree to these changes, there are discretionary housing payments available for people hit by the Bedroom Tax. If people think they qualify I would urge them to contact the Borough Council on 01455 238141"