OAP council tax discount row

From the archive, first published Thursday 15th Nov 2007.

ALMOST half of Southampton's pensioners will miss out a promised ten per cent discount on their council tax, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Tory leaders on the city council who made the pledge have now been accused of conning pensioners for votes.

The ruling Conservatives campaigned that over-65 households would get a ten per cent discount off their council tax bill if they applied. They have already set aside £1.2m to pay for it in next year's budget.

But while finance chiefs say 11,500 households will benefit they have revealed those receiving council tax benefit won't be able to apply as "they are already protected from council tax increases".

See today's Daily Echo for more details.