Council Tax support for people stranded on Island of Muchelney

VILLAGES in South Somerset which have been hit hard by the floods will have received some good news last night (Thursday, February 27, 2014) about their Council Tax bills for the new financial year.

Members of South Somerset District Council were given a new report last night to incorporate some flood relief support for taxpayers on the Somerset Levels in the area of Thorney, Muchelney, Muchelney Ham and Oath.

In deciding the council’s budget for 2014-15 councillors noted that a Council Tax discount of 100 per cent for up to 52 weeks was being applied to residents who have vacated their flooded homes.

But they also approved last night that the council should use its discretionary powers to introduce a once-off local Council Tax discount of 100 per cent for six months for people who have decided not to leave their flooded properties.

And, importantly, they also agreed to give 100 per cent discount on Council Tax for up to three months for homes on the Somerset Levels which did not actually flood, but were inaccessible due to the flooding of the surrounding area such as at the “island” of Muchelney.

Cllr Tim Carroll spoke about the “distress, disruption and total misery” for people living in the flooded areas and that people in Muchelney had been “stranded on an island.”

He said it was only fair that those people who had been isolated due to the flooding received Council Tax support.

Cllr Derek Yeomans, who represents the Burrow Hill ward on the council, said the discounts would give some “consolation” to those people affected by the floods.

The overall Council Tax bill is made up of amounts for the county council, district council, town/parish council, Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and the Avon & Somerset Police.

The county council receives the lion’s share – around 70 per cent – of the Council Tax bill.

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