To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel for an update on the public consultation on a subsidy scheme for rate payers under the new local government structure.

On 19 November 2014 I announced the final detail of the scheme to manage the issue of rates convergence arising out of the new council structures.

The scheme will see the effects of rates convergence phased in over the full council term with an 80% subsidy applied next year (2015/16). This will remove 80% of the amount which has been identified as the “convergence” effect. That support will then be gradually phased out over the 4 year term and will be applied at increments of 60%, 40%, and 20% over the remaining years of the scheme.

These discounts will be automatically applied to the district rate shown on the rate bill from next year for the life of the scheme and therefore there is no need for anyone to claim it.