More than £1 million has been put back into Dudley Council budgets to help people struggling to pay council tax and housing rents.

It comes following an examination of the council’s budgets through scrutiny where elected members were able to make recommendations ahead of the budget’s final approval next month.

Members scrutinised the budgets set against a backdrop of £42 million savings and cabinet formally backed two of those recommendations on Thursday 30th January.

It means £1 million will be added into the existing Discretionary Council Tax Relief Scheme, which supports residents who are facing extreme financial difficulties with their Council Tax payments.

A further £200,000 will be put into the Discretionary Housing Payments Scheme for people who are in receipt of either Housing Benefit or the Universal Credit Rent Element with additional help with their rent payments.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of the council, said: “We are having to make some very difficult decisions to set a balanced budget, but we are keen to make sure our plans are reviewed properly.

"The money we have chosen to put back into the budget will help people in most need, and shows we are listening to local people. Although this budget is tough, we still need to support local people.”

The council is currently setting a five-year financial plan to steer the authority away from bankruptcy. Council leaders have acknowledged “difficult decisions” but have vowed to answer criticism from The Local Government Peer Review and CIPFA reports into the state of its finances.

Councillor Harley added: “Having a five-year plan will put us on a much firmer footing. We are protecting services we know are important to people such as libraries and leisure centres.

“The external examination we had was very clear – we need to make difficult decisions to balance the books. I believe we can do this and listen to local people.

“This latest agreement to put money back into the budget helps local people at the same time.”

The budget will be reported back to cabinet on February 12th before being formally determined by full council on February 24th.