A motion to reduce the minimum council tax payable in Richmond after a damning report showed it targets the most vulnerable residents was denied at the full council meeting last month.

The Citizen Advice Bureau (CAB) released a report in October detailing how the 15 per cent all resident must pay “discriminates unfairly against some of the most vulnerable residents” in the borough.

In the year 2013/2014, central Government cut council funding to the Council Tax Benefit Scheme which supported people on low incomes.

In 2015, the council voted to bring in a rule that everyone in the borough had to contribute at least five per cent to council tax.

Previous to this, people on low incomes or benefits did not have to make a contribution.

The following year, the council voted to triple the minimum contribution to 15 per cent, although only 36 per cent of people agreed with the rise.

In the wake of the report, a motion was submitted by Councillor Liz Jaeger at November’s full council meeting urging the council to backtrack.

In 2016, the council reduced council tax overall but increased the minimum payable.

Cllr Jaeger said: “This is the only council to reduce council tax and then go and put the burden on people on benefits.

“I think it’s grossly unfair.

“This is clearly the most dreadful regressive tax and for heaven’s sake, let’s do something to reverse it.”

In response, Cllr Stephen Speak said he would not “dismiss the concerns in any way” highlighted in the report but said “there have been plenty of reviews of the scheme” already.

He said: “The idea of going back and looking at it again is not necessary.”

Cllr Speak spoke of the “harsh” Government cuts and because by 2020 the net cost to the council will be £6 million, he said “we have to take action”.

The report from the CAB gave case studies to demonstrate the ill-effects on residents.

One woman, who was widowed in 2014 after caring for her husband who had a cancer for five years, has three children between seven and 11.

She was placed in housing association accommodation by the council, she is subject to a benefit cap and has now has to pay an extra £50 per week towards rent.

The additional charge is “causing her extreme hardship”.

A 24-year-old man, who suffers from a number of learning and social-related disabilities, gets his only income from Job Seekers' Allowance (JSA) benefit.

After all necessary deductions, he is left with just £54 per week for living expenses, and the 15 per cent council tax charge takes a further £5 from this.

The report also shows the extra charge, which has legal consequences if not paid, may push people closer to homelessness if they are unable to pay their rent.

Opposition leader Gareth Roberts has described the policy as “wicked”.

He said: “It is simply unacceptable that in wealthy boroughs such as Richmond we find residents having to rely on hand-outs from food banks and having to borrow money from relatives to pay their council tax.”

A spokesman for the council said: “The minimum charge of 15 per cent remains below the median charge for London despite Richmond Council suffering the highest level of reduction in its Government Grant. 

“Before it was localised, the cost to the council was nil. 

“Latest estimates show the annual cost approaching £5 million a year and rising. 

“The council continues to provide fuel grants of £85 per household to help with energy costs over the winter period.”