MK City Council leaders back idea for terminally ill to receive council tax exemption

Leaders at Milton Keynes City Council announced their backing of a national campaign from Marie Curie to secure a council tax exemption for residents with a terminal illness.

MK Labour, who are the largest party at MK City Council, have proposed a debate that would see Milton Keynes follow in Manchester City Council’s footsteps and introduce a Council Tax exemption in the city for people with a terminal illness, or a partner or family member in the same household, who have less than 12 months to live. 

Research by Marie Curie, the UK’s leading end of life charity, has shown that people at the end of life face higher living costs alongside reduced income, leaving many to spend their final weeks and months struggling to make ends meet. 

Cllr Lauren Townsend, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance at Milton Keynes City Council, said, “When someone is living with a terminal illness, their last weeks and months should be about time with loved ones and not having to worry about bills. By supporting this campaign, we want to ease the financial pressure on families at the hardest of times. This is a small but important step that can make a huge difference to people’s quality of life.”

“MK City Council would be only the second council after Manchester to implement this scheme, highlighting how across the country well-run Labour councils are ensuring people get support when they need it.”

The MK Labour motion will be debated at the MK City Council meeting on Wednesday 17 September.

In a statement promoting the proposals, MK Labour said they felt it would be likely that the Council would agree to bring forward a specific proposal to implement the council tax exemption later in the autumn with the ambition for the scheme to be in place in early 2026.