Press Release
Local Discretionary Energy Rebate Scheme gets approval at Council committee
Date: 15 July 2022
Brentwood Borough Council will give further support to households who have been identified as being in financial hardship to help with their energy costs, as part of a local discretionary energy rebate scheme.
At this week's meeting of Policy, Resources and Economic Development Committee (13 July), Councillors agreed to additional discretionary funding to support those who are in receipt of council tax support or council tax reduction with rising energy bills.
In February 2022, the Government announced measures to help people with rising energy bills. This was a payment of £150 to households in Council Tax Bands A-D, who are not exempt from Council Tax, known as the Council Tax Rebate scheme and a discretionary fund for households not eligible for Council Tax Rebate.
Phase 1 of the Government’s Energy Bills Rebate Scheme was in April 2022, and Brentwood Borough Council has now awarded the £150 to 100% of residents in Council Tax bands A-D who were eligible, either by direct payment or by crediting their council tax account in line with government guidance to help with the costs of their energy bills.
The Council also received £206,100 of discretionary funding and has now agreed its local discretionary energy rebate scheme as Phase 2 and this funding will be passed on directly as one-off grants to households that are eligible.
Under the new scheme, households in Council Tax Bands E – H who currently receive Council Tax Support or Council Tax Reduction will receive £190 and households in Bands A to D, will receive a ‘top-up’ of £40.
Leader of Brentwood Borough Council, Councillor Chris Hossack said: “I know that budgets are tight for a lot of people and although the weather is great now – I'm sure the cost of energy bills is still very much on people’s minds. So far in Brentwood, we have awarded more than £2.8m in energy bill rebates as part of phase 1.
“In phase 2, I’m pleased we are able to give a little extra support to those in Council Tax Bands E-H we have identified as being in financial hardship by receiving Council Tax Support.”
For those who pay their council tax via direct debit, you will receive your payment directly into your bank account.
All non-direct debit Council Taxpayers will be contacted by email or letter, to make them aware of the discretionary scheme. Any residents who do not contact the Council by 31 August 2022, will receive a credit onto their Council Tax accounts, in line with government guidance.
For more information, our website will soon be updated with the new energy rebate information at www.brentwood.gov.uk/-/energy-bills-rebate