Update on the Council Tax Benefit Support Grant for Parish Councils

On the last Wednesday of the parliamentary term in the House of Commons I again raised the issue that is affecting many parish and town councils from Hexham and Ponteland downwards. Northumberland County Council are refusing to pass this government money on to the local councils, even though over 90% of other councils have done so. The question we have to ask is why? Other councils are doing this, including I might add plenty, of Labour councils.

Guy Opperman (Hexham):
"On 25 November, in the House, I raised the issue of the council tax benefit support grant, which is not being passed on to all the parish councils in Northumberland. On that occasion, my hon. Friend responded by saying that local authorities should be ensuring that that was done. Can he tell me whether he has made any further progress in forcing them to do so?"

Brandon Lewis MP, Minister Dept Communitioes and Local Government:
"It is true that a very small number of authorities are not yet passing on the grant, and we are telling them that they should. It is a matter for the authorities themselves, but we made it very clear in today’s written statement that they should be passing the money on to the parish councils."

The original question and answer is here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2013-11-25a.9.5&s=%28council+tax+benefit+support+grant%29+speaker%3A24962#g10.0
The debate again featured discussion between north and south Local Authorities: the Minister made the point in Wednesday's debate by pointing out the real facts:
"Newcastle receives £2,400 per dwelling, which is about £900 more than areas such as Windsor and Maidenhead."
I will post more as we continue to persaude Northumberland County Council to pay the government money that is due our parish councils.

Hexham should get its Council Tax Benefit Support Grant from Northumberland County Council

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03k4xwr/House_of_Commons_25_11_2013/
23 minutes in yesterday I raised the issue of the council tax benefit support grant, following representations made to me by the Hexham Town Council last week.
Last year, quite rightly, the NCC passed over a Government grant to all parish councils; in the case of Hexham it was £23227. On any interpretation this is significant money. Other parishes would be similarly affected by such a crucial change.
This year the Northumberland County Council has stated it is not going to pay over the grant it is going to receive from Government = the same amount as last year.
They have no right to do this and I have raised this in person and in the House of Commons with the Minister. His answer is crystal clear and NCC are in the wrong.