THOUSANDS of people claiming reductions in their council tax could have to pay more in the future.

Blackburn with Darwen Council members backed proposals to change its council tax support scheme following reviews.

The raft of proposed changes would affect more than 3,000 claims from across the borough.

Currently, more than 15,000 people in Blackburn with Darwen claim some form of council tax support.

But council resources chief Cllr Andy Kay said proposals to reduce support from 80 per cent to 75 per cent had been dropped after a lack of support from the public.

Currently, more than 15,000 residents in the borough receive council tax support, and for working age claimants this can be up to 80 per cent of the amount of council tax they’re due to pay each year.

The total amount of council tax support provided to claimants in the borough equates to more than £12m a year.

It’s intended that the money saved by these changes will be used to invest in and support frontline services.

Cllr Kay added: “Every year we have to review the council tax support scheme. This year we have taken a great deal of time to find out exactly what the people of the borough would like.

“We had some 370 responses overwhelmingly in favour of the measures.”