A new relief fund is set to shield low and middle-income households from rising council tax bills.
Tower Hamlets Council has introduced the scheme to offset a 2.99 per cent council tax increase for residents earning less than £60,000 a year who are not already receiving council tax support.
The fund aims to ease the financial strain on households who may not qualify for existing support but are still feeling the effects of the cost of living crisis.
Lutfur Rahman, executive mayor of Tower Hamlets, said: "Many families are still feeling the squeeze from rising household costs.
"This fund is a practical way of easing that pressure and ensuring support reaches those who need it most.
"While council tax is essential to funding services residents rely on everyday – from waste collection and libraries to schools and community services – we are committed to keeping the burden on local households as low as possible."
Households with a combined income below £60,000 and not already receiving council tax support will be eligible for the relief.
It will not affect those already covered by the council’s long-standing Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS), which offers up to a 100 per cent discount for residents on the lowest incomes.
Councillor Maium Talukdar, deputy mayor and cabinet member for tackling inequality and the cost of living, said: "Even a modest increase in bills can have a real impact on household budgets.
"By covering the council tax increase for eligible residents, we can help families hold on to more of their income at a time when every pound counts."
The relief fund forms part of the council’s broader support package.
This includes free summer activities, help with food costs, and university bursary grants for students.
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