BROMSGROVE District Council has suspended a consultation on council tax support, after chaotic scenes at the latest meeting of the authority.

In last week's Advertiser we reported that the authority had launched the survey that attempted to get the views of residents on a number of potential options for local council tax support (LCTS).

LCTS replaced council tax benefit on April 1 as part of the major changes to the welfare benefits system.

It is now determined by local councils, and the authority had not changed entitlement for two financial years, having funded council tax support to the same level as the previous benefits scheme.

The authority launched the consultation in order to get the opinions of residents on the options, with the consultation set to run until August 24.

But at the meeting of the full council, held on July 16, the minutes of the cabinet from July 2, on which the item had been resolved, was raised.

The leader of the Labour group on the authority, Councillor Luke Mallett, pointed out that any decision to hold the survey should have been made at the full council, as the sovereign body.

This led to debate and confusion, and two adjournments, as the council chairman June Griffiths sought legal advice.

Following the second adjournment, a decision was made to defer the item so it can go back to councillors for consideration as part of the committee process.

A Bromsgrove District Council spokesman said: "The consultation has since been deferred by Bromsgrove District Council.

"Although the survey has currently been suspended, if you have already completed one, your views will be held on file pending the council’s decision on further consultation."