LOW income households in Dudley are facing a council tax increase of up to five per cent.

Cash-strapped Dudley Council has launched a consultation to see if it should make changes to its council tax reduction (CTR) scheme next year.

Under the current scheme, all working age Dudley households, eligible to receive CTR, have to pay at least 20 per cent of the full council tax liability for their property.

As it stands, the authority grants reductions of around £19m while collecting around £120m in council tax.

For the 2017/18 version of the scheme the council is proposing to either leave it as it is or increase the minimum amount of council tax people benefiting from the scheme pay to 22 per cent or 25 per cent.

Low-income pensioners will continue to receive this benefit regardless of any proposed changes.

Councillor David Sparks, cabinet member for corporate and customer services, said: “Dudley, like many councils has been hit hard by central government cuts and whilst we have done all that we can to protect those on lower incomes, we are investigating whether a small increase in council tax payment by those people currently in receipt of CTR is feasible or whether we should retain the status quo.

“I hope that our residents take the opportunity to have their say during this twelve week consultation as their views are extremely important to us.”

People can fill out an online questionnaire here or collect a paper copy from borough libraries and Dudley Council Plus.

A final decision on the proposals is expected to be taken by full council later in autumn.