Thousands won't have to pay council tax as 16 councils work to exempt people

A charity is urging more councils to agree not to charge one group of people council tax

Thousands of people could be exempted from making council tax payments as a charity has secured commitments from 16 authorities and is pressing others to follow suit. More than 100,000 people die in poverty every year, and Marie Curie is working to cut that number by getting councils to agree not to charge some people council tax.

The charity has secured commitments from 16 councils to drop council tax for terminally ill people, and hopes more will follow. Manchester City Council and Barnsley have already introduced the rule with Bristol, Salford and Preston agreeing to bring it in.

Marie Curie said 11 more councils have agreed to explore introducing a dedicated relief policy, including those in Ne