THE Green Party has accused the council of failing to help vulnerable people with their council tax bills.

The party said a review of council tax costs for poor households will not go ahead, even though the city council initially agreed to one.

It hailed the move a "missed opportunity to support some of the city’s poorest and most vulnerable residents."

Each year, councils can revise the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTR), which helps people on low incomes with their bill.

The Greens said the council agreed to review how the scheme could be improved earlier this year.

Green Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty said: "We asked for a consultation to understand how people on low incomes could be better supported, backed up by a discussion on promoting the council’s funds for those who need extra help with housing costs.

“Once again we have been denied the opportunity to offer more support to vulnerable residents this year.

"Sadly, this is not the first time we have had our calls for a consultation rejected. Last year Greens called on the council to adopt a fairer ‘Council Tax Protocol’ developed by national organisation Citizens Advice because we recognised the need to support residents in vulnerable circumstances.

"We say that as long as the poorest households bear the brunt of cruel austerity policy, our council must do everything in our power stop further debt due to Council Tax.”