Fewer low-income residents and benefit claimants received council tax relief this year.

This comes as Lewisham Council has seen £3.67m of cuts to council tax relief schemes since 2010.

A Lewisham Council spokesperson said council tax relief was capped at 75 per cent, but the council was working to support those on low incomes.

Between April and June last year, 25,242 people were receiving some form of council tax relief, according to Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government figures.

However over the same period in 2018, that number had dropped to 24,367 – a four per cent decrease.

“In 2010 the government announced plans to localise council tax support along with a 10 per cent reduction in expenditure. For Lewisham, this meant a cut of £3.67m,” the spokesperson said.

“We have worked to support the borough’s most vulnerable citizens and, each year since the funding changes were announced, we have consulted with residents on the options available in delivering a local council tax reduction scheme."

The current council tax relief scheme still sees savings for those on low incomes in the borough with pensioners unaffected by the cuts, they said.

“The scheme incorporates allowances that protect the borough’s most vulnerable residents including the disabled, those with children, and ex-armed forces personnel,” the spokesperson explained.

The number of pensioners claiming council tax relief dropped by 324 last year, and the number of working-age claimants reduced by 551.

People can be eligible to pay reduced council tax if they are on a low income, claim benefits or are a pensioner.

The Government stopped fully funding the scheme in 2013.

A Local Government Association spokesperson has said the Government should start fully funding relief schemes again, with councils having little choice but to reduce the discount in the face of cuts.