50% Council Tax Discount for all Pensioner Households in Orkney

Helen Gardiner, Scottish Conservative candidate for Orkney, has spoken out about the proposed 3% rise in Council tax, especially the impact it will inevitably have on hard pressed pensioner households.

Orcadians learned of the likely 3% rise in Council tax when members of the OIC agreed the figure on 29th January during a special meeting of the Council's Policy and Resources Committee.

Helen Gardiner said "The Council Tax is already like a second mortgage and this 3% rise makes it all the harder to accept. However I am particularly concerned about the way it will impact on pensioner households. This is why the Scottish Conservatives pledge to introduce a statutory council tax discount for ALL pensioner households aged 65 or over in Scotland."

Helen explained, “This will be a key pledge in the Conservative manifesto for this year’s Scottish Parliament Elections because we believe that people who have worked hard all their lives and saved for retirement should live in dignity and security in old age.”

“The discount will be centrally funded and will be additional to any discounts that the pensioner is currently entitled to, such as the 25% single household discount and any council tax benefit.”

Helen explained “The discount will apply to people aged 65 or over, who live alone, or who live with other adults aged 65 or over. No one will be made worse off. No group will be charged higher council taxes to finance the discount.”

She added "The discount will not be means tested and will include halving the bills of those on council tax benefit. A typical pensioner in Orkney in a band D property will see a saving of £378 a year, and a typical couple a saving of £504 a year."