COUNCIL tax support for people with children will cease in Bournemouth on April 1 if plans to overhaul policy are approved.

On Tuesday (JAN 17), the full council will consider a recommendation from the borough's cabinet to remove the £17.45 benefit both for new claimants and existing claimants who become parents on or after April 1.

Members will also vote on whether to reduce the maximum period for which claims can be backdated from six months to one, and whether to cap the value of claims at Band C - meaning a person in a Band D-H property would receive maximum support of the Band C council tax minus the minimum contribution.

Under the plans, the second adult rebate for working age claimants would also be withdrawn - where for instance a person would have been entitled to a single person discount as the other adult resident at the property was on income support.

Finally, councillors will also consider whether to withdraw council tax discounts in respect of vacant properties, including those undergoing major alterations.

The authority believes up to £419,000 will be "generated" towards balancing its budget, although £50,000 would go towards the new 'empty homes strategy' agreed in September last year.

The changes are supported by the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner and, more cautiously, by Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Authority, which warned against "counterproductive" changes which might make residents more "vulnerable" and result in more call-outs.

According to a report prepared for the cabinet, the consultation revealed that 33 per cent of claimants who responded and 21 per cent of non-claimants were opposed to the removal of the family premium.

One respondent wrote: "A small increase should not result in hardship in most cases. Families tend to have a wider use of council facilities so a contribution should be made."

However, another wrote: "As it is the poorest people who are being expected to provide the council with extra revenue, I strongly disagree.

"Although it does not apply to me now, I have, in the past, been in the position of being a single parent on a very low income, and even having to pay a seemingly trivial amount of £4 per week extra can cause hardship."

The government introduced the changes to the family premium early last year, although local authorities can choose whether or not to adopt them.

In the report, officers said the implementation had been delayed until 2017 as there would not have been enough time to carry out a consultation before April 1 last year.

Another minor change being considered is ending payments of less than 50p per week due to administrative costs.

The authority is also currently reviewing its single person occupancy council tax discount, which will be decided at a later date.