Plans to give £50 to each household to help in the recession
Ealing Council wants to give away cash to residents in a £6 million package to tackle the recession.
The proposals will mean more than 122,000 Council Tax payers in the borough would be given £50 cash back.
Residents will be encouraged to spend the one-off windfall payment locally so that businesses in the borough benefit too.
Payments would be made by 1 December - in time for the Christmas shopping period.
To encourage local spending the council intends to scrap its car park charges each weekend throughout December. In addition, businesses will be urged to give residents special discounts to boost trade.
Council Leader, Jason Stacey, said,“We know how hard the recession has hit local people which is why I am proposing the country’s biggest ever council cash back scheme to help them during the credit crunch.
“Ealing Council has built up strong reserves to see us through these difficult economic times. But, it is also important to remember that this money belongs to local people so it is only right that we give back some money during the recession.
“The cash back scheme will be accompanied by a campaign to encourage residents to shop locally so that this £6million plus cash injection should also benefit our retailers.”
The money will only be given to people who have fully paid their Ealing Council Tax.
Anyone with Council Tax outstanding will have £50 credited against their bill.
Properties that are exempt, empty properties and second homes and some other categories will not receive any money.
The proposals go before council in July and, if approved, the scheme will be the biggest of its type ever run by a council in the country.
June 19, 2009
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