Monmouthshire's cabinet will consider the local version of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme at its meeting next Monday (28th January).

The Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS), which will replace Council Tax Benefit, is a national scheme throughout Wales. Though, local authorities have been given some flexibility to supplement certain aspects of the scheme.

The key difference with the new scheme is that the funding provided by the UK Government has reduced by 10 per cent.

This meant that Council Tax payers were going to receive less Council Tax Benefit. However due to a very recent announcement, further funding will come from Welsh Government and most people on Council Tax Benefit will now not be affected.

Previously, all funding came from the Department for Work and Pensions.

The new arrangement for funding means that while, in theory, 100 per cent of monies needed is catered for, in reality this is very different.

There will be a fixed amount of money available for local authorities to implement the scheme, and if true costs exceed this then Monmouthshire County Council will need to find this money.

This is something that the council will have to monitor over the next financial year so that any budgetary consequences can be planned for.

Cabinet member for finance, Councillor Phil Murphy, is keen to make sure that Monmouthshire's most vulnerable people are offered the support the need.

"I am pleased that, at a very late stage, the money has been found to help support those in our communities on low incomes, albeit that the funding arrangements still have the potential to put extra pressure on the council's budget," he said.

Local councils need to agree their local schemes by 31st January to make sure people get the benefit on time and ensure the system continues to run smoothly.