COLCHESTER’S finance chief says despite a significant cut in council funding from central Government, he will not pass the burden onto council taxpayers.

Paul Smith, borough councillor responsible for business and finance, said the borough’s most vulnerable people will continue to be protected under council tax rules for next year, in spite of a 16 per cent cut in funding from 2013/14 to 2014/15.

Under the plans, which came into effect in April, and which are set to continue into next year, residents who had not previously been paying council tax have had to pay at least 20 per cent of their bill.

But as part of the scheme, residents’ first £25 per week earned is not taken into account when their council tax bill is calculated, while newly employed people will be given a one month grace period before having to pay the tax.

Mr Smith said: “We are very pleased with the efforts people in Colchester are making to pay their council tax and we want that to continue.

“We are expecting a very significant cut in our funding next year, which meant we did have to look at increasing contributions to the scheme, but we have decided against it.”

The scheme, which Mr Smith wants approved for next year, are set to be discussed at a meeting on November 27.