People on low incomes will be able to claim 100 per cent council tax relief in the Lancaster and Morecambe district for another year - although one councillor said this is "a free ride".
Councillor Andrew Gardiner was speaking at a debate about continuing 100 per cent council tax relief for working age people on low incomes in 2023/24.
The vast majority of councillors voted in favour of retaining council tax support, which is claimed by almost 10,000 residents across the Lancaster and Morecambe district.
But Councillor Gardiner, of the Conservative group, said: "I can't support this."
Speaking at a Lancaster City Council meeting on Wednesday night, he said: "Everyone's equal. I still believe that we all should pay some part of the services we use.
"Yes it's difficult, everyone is struggling. I cannot support giving someone a free ride.
"We would all love to give people help with everything, but we cannot do everything. So what is it to be? These people are going to get free council tax. But I want to provide the best frontline services for the people that we represent, and for that everyone should pay into, however difficult it is, because I don't want the CEO to have to make two or three people redundant on that front line."
Earlier in the meeting, he said: "Everyone is using those services. I believe everyone should pay their bit in society.
"So the idea is, that we don't give them 100 per cent (relief), we only give them maybe 80, and we increase the span of how many people we can take out of that 100 per cent and move them down to 80. That helps even more people, and then everybody is paying into the pot."
Councillors from rival political groups then responded to Councillor Gardiner's comments.
Councillor Sally Maddocks (pictured below), from the Green and Independent group, said: "I don't think anyone who gets council tax (relief) gets a free ride. It's very far from a free ride.
"There's nothing worse than wondering where your next £10 is going to come from. I want to help people who are in that position."
Councillor David Whitaker, from Labour group, said: "This is one of the most important issues we will address this year.
"It's more important than ever that we do it this year.
"People say they are struggling to heat their homes. Foodbank use is on the increase.
"Let's show people that we are a caring council. Let's show some Christmas spirit."
Councillor Gina Dowding, from the Greens, said: "We were one of the first councils to provide 100 per cent relief on council tax.
"It has been supported every year by the vast majority of councillors. We are proud to support vulnerable people of this district.
"This is about the grinding poverty of which you (Councillor Gardiner) clearly have no understanding."
Lancaster City Council has provided 100 per cent council tax relief for working age people on low incomes since 2013/14, one of very few UK local authorities to do so.
Currently 9,942 residents claim council tax support in the Lancaster district, down from a high of 12,202 in April 2014.
Pensioners make up 37.6 per cent (3,735) of claimants in the Lancaster district. The government has said that pensioners should be fully protected from paying council tax.
A council report says that this means "any cut in the level of support provided falls on the remaining 62.4 per cent (6,207) of working age people on low incomes, reducing in numbers from (6,958) in the previous year.
"A reduction in the levels of support provided could arguably provide claimants with further incentives to work, reducing their reliance on benefits, although the jobs market is particularly uncertain at this difficult time," said the report.
The report says that a 10 per cent cut in council tax support would have saved the council £78,000, while a 20 per cent cut would have saved £156,000.
Proposing the continuation of the scheme, Councillor Anne Whitehead from Labour, cabinet member for finance and resources, said: "The cost of living crisis affects all of us but not all of us equally."
Addressing Councillor Gardiner, she said: "If you're worried about the finances of the council and that we don't have enough money..."
Councillor Gardiner said: "Ask the government? You're like a stuck record. Shall we ask the government for everything? Should we go to work and ask for the money from the government?"
Councillors then voted, via a majority, to retain the existing Localised Council Tax Support Scheme for 2023/24.
Also at the meeting, there were warnings about the council's stark financial future.
Related Story: "Bankrupt" warning as Lancaster City Council faces grim financial future - Beyond Radio
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