Cash-strapped Medway Council to hire tax investigator

A cash-strapped council is set to hire an investigator to check people are not wrongfully claiming tax discounts.

Medway Council believes it could save £800,000 by employing the officer to check if people can claim single person discounts (SPD) on their council tax.

Council leader Vince Maple, warned people who were wrongly claiming SPDs: "If you are not entitled, that entitlement is going to be taken away."

The council was warned in September that it could face bankruptcy.

In hiring an investigator, the council expects to reduce the number of SPD discounts at about 2,000 properties.

Individuals are entitled to the 25% off SPD on the council tax bill if they are the only over-18 living in a property. However, they are required to report any change to the council themselves, rather than the authority checking that they are still eligible if their circumstances change.

Plans have also been proposed to close council tax relief schemes in order to raise £2.3m and reduce budgetary pressure.

If approved, the proposal would mean that second homes, empty properties and vacant properties in need of repair would see council tax discounts and breaks removed.

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