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Council tax challenge goes to the Court of Appeal Haringey council tax ruling taken to Court of Appeal
(about 11 hours later)
A single mother is taking her legal battle over a north London council's plans to make people on benefits contribute to their council tax bill to the Court of Appeal. A single mother who opposes plans to make people on benefits contribute to their council tax bill has taken her legal battle to the Court of Appeal.
A High Court judge had dismissed claims Haringey Council's consultation over the changes were flawed. Last week a High Court judge dismissed Sarah Stirling's claim against Haringey Council in north London.
He said the process was not unlawful but gave the woman leave to appeal. Her lawyers say the council's consultation over the changes was "so flawed as to be unlawful". The council disputes her allegations.
Local authorities are being asked to introduce their own council tax reduction schemes from April. The government is scrapping the council tax benefit system from April.
A study by the Resolution Foundation independent research group in January found nearly 75% of local authorities in England were planning to increase demands on low-income families. Local authorities are being asked to introduce their own council tax reduction schemes but with a 10% cut in funding.
Positive incentives A study by the Resolution Foundation independent research group in January found nearly three quarters of local authorities in England were planning to increase demands on low-income families.
The woman, who has four children but cannot be named for legal reasons, complained Haringey Council acted unlawfully when consulting on its council tax reduction scheme. 'Fundamentally unfair'
The council said its consultation process was extensive, clear and comprehensive. The mother-of-four's lawyers said welfare reforms were aimed at saving money and encouraging people on benefits to find employment and the changes could have "profound consequences" for some of the poorest and most vulnerable in society.
Mr Justice Underhill dismissed her claim on 7 February but her solicitors will ask three appeal judges to overturn that ruling later. The lawyers said the process did not enable Ms Stirling to make an "intelligent response" to the proposals following the consultation.
Haringey Council's consultation, involving claimants, residents and key stakeholders, ran from August to November and included the council writing to the 36,000 households directly affected. The council has said its consultation process was extensive, clear and comprehensive and it had received more than 1,400 responses.
The council said it received more than 1,400 responses to the consultation. Dismissing her legal challenge in the High Court, Mr Justice Underhill said the consultation was not "fundamentally unfair" and ruled in the council's favour.
A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "Under the new localised system, councils are legally responsible for drawing up their schemes.A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "Under the new localised system, councils are legally responsible for drawing up their schemes.
"The government has provided £100m of transitional funding to help all councils develop well-designed schemes, maintain positive incentives to work and encourage best practice.""The government has provided £100m of transitional funding to help all councils develop well-designed schemes, maintain positive incentives to work and encourage best practice."