THE Isle of Wight Council has pledged to increase the level of support for those struggling to pay their council tax bill — but not until 2023.

In the coming financial year, from April 1, the support will stay the same at a 65 per cent reduction from their bills.

It was approved by the full Isle of Wight Council last night (Wednesday), that the Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) scheme would be raised to 'at least 70 per cent' in 2023, following consultation, due to the ever-increasing cost of living.

Requesting the increase in the coming year, and hoping to see it rise again in later years, Cllr Andrew Garratt had said he had seen the terrible impact of the cuts to the scheme— which has reduced the level of support from 91.5 per cent to 65.

He said he would like to be delighted with the extra five per cent but could not be when so many people were living with monetary pressures as the cost of living rises and the price cap on energy costs is lifted later this year.

Cllr Chris Jarman, cabinet member for strategic finance, said the Alliance administration was aware of the catastrophic increases to the cost of living and other utilities and said if they could do more, they would.

Repeating what he said at the cabinet meeting last week, he said the Alliance was committed to ensuring it was 'not the vehicle that drove Island families into poverty, unsustainable debt or homelessness'.

Despite the potential savings that could be made from the scheme, helping the council's budget, Cllr Jarman said they are determined to stop the decline in support and reverse the trend.

The Isle of Wight Council does have an exceptional hardship fund for those in receipt of LCTS if they need further financial assistance. To find out more, visit iow.gov.uk/Council/OtherServices/Local-Council-Tax-Support-Entitlement/Exceptional-Hardship-Fund