Council tax freeze for pensioners

Households in an average Band D property could save just over £100 between 2009 and 2011, said Hillingdon Council leader Ray Puddifoot.

The perk comes soon after Hillingdon announced a 2% council tax cut for the borough's 18,500 elderly households.

Age Concern welcomed the move but called for an urgent reform of the council tax based on people's income.

Age discrimination

Mr Puddifoot said the council wanted to ensure "pensioners have sufficient means to keep up with the rising costs of living".

"Ultimately, this is the responsibility of central government but we are addressing these issues at a local level as far as we can," he said.

He said the shortfall in tax revenue would be covered by "efficiency savings" and stressed there would be no cuts to council services.

The estimated saving for pensioners is based on council tax rising by an average of 3% a year between 2008/09 and 2010/11.

A spokesman for Age Concern said council tax levels should be based on ability to pay and not age.

"We're against age discrimination," he said.

"A rise in the basic state pension is what is needed rather than individual councils doing their little bit to help the elderly."

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