LOW-INCOME residents in the Tendring district will have to paymore council tax after a new support scheme was launched.

The new tax support guidelines were agreed by Tendring Council on Tuesday and are set to be introduced next year.

They will see low-income claimants have to pay 20 per cent of their council tax rather than the current 15 per cent, but child maintenance will be taken out of the equation.

The increase has been made after a residency clause – which restricted council tax support to those who have lived in the Tendring district for at least five years – had to be scrapped.

It was removed after a court ruled against a similar clause introduced by Sandwell Council in the West Midlands.

The loss of the residency clause means the council will receive less cash. The tax hike for poorer families will help balance the books.

Council housing boss Paul Honeywood said: “The residency clause was popular with local people and we now find ourselves in a difficult position.

“Even with this proposed change, we are offering a very good deal and one which matches or betters all but one other local authority in Essex.”

Opposition councillors lost an amendment to give low-income claimants a 90 per cent tax discount.

Councillors feared a 90 per cent discount would encourage a flood of “benefit migrants” to the district.

A second amendment, by Labour, to remove child maintenance from council tax calculations was agreed.

The new scheme will now go out to public consultation.