CHANGES to Somerset’s council tax support system could ‘create more hardship’ for people on low incomes, a number of councillors have warned.

Somerset Council is consulting on proposed changes to its council tax reduction scheme as it continues to try to avoid going bankrupt.

Nearly 500 people have taken part in the consultation, which ends on September 28, with formal proposals being put to the council’s executive in November, ahead of its annual budget meeting next February.

Some proposals could cost the authority nearly £4 million, with the overall changes intended to be cost-neutral.

Conservative opposition Cllr Bob Filmer said: “Somebody is going to be made worse off by the decisions we make.

“It is just a case of who gets made worse off.

“It is either the people who are currently being hit, or we are going to get other people to cover that cost.

“The judgement of Solomon is going to be needed.”

Green group leader Cllr Dave Mansell said more residents could fall into council tax arrears and run up greater debt to stay afloat.

Cllr Mansell said: “People do get into arrears with their council tax, and this has close to doubled over the last year.

“In other words, people were getting into more difficulty.

“That is probably not a surprise, we know the cost of living pressures and the difficulties people are getting into.”

Liberal Democrat Cllr Peter Seib said: “One of the worst outcomes we can impose on a citizen is the pile of unopened envelopes of top of the fridge, which they know are just reminders.

“That is a horrible place to be.

“We need to make sure we are not creating a perfect storm for anybody.”

The consultation can be found on the council’s website.