Council tax bills could triple for hard-up families as part of planned cuts affecting more than 10,000 people across the district.

Cost-saving measures have been branded “disgraceful”, with the authority accused of taking money from the pockets of those who can least afford it.

Among the contentious options is the inclusion of presently disregarded child benefit in a family’s total income – a move which would be felt most by single parents.

Bill payers contributing the minimum of 5% towards their council tax could also have to stump up as much as 15% – an average of £156 more a year.

But even if the proposals were introduced, Canterbury’s discount scheme would remain one of the most generous in the county – and even the country.

Council leader Simon Cook says the needs of everyone must be considered.

“We need to find a fair way in which council tax is affordable for those on low incomes, while still protecting the rest of council tax payers,” he said.

“The scheme we’ve had for the last three years has not been as stringent as in the rest of the country and in the rest of Kent.

“We absolutely want to protect the people in most need, while making sure we’re not being overly generous to those less in need.”

In 2013 the government transferred the handling of council tax discount schemes to local billing authorities, with Canterbury City Council deciding to make all tax payers contribute at least 5%.

It is proposed to increase this amount to 10% or 15%, resulting in savings of £252,000 or £502,000.

Another measure suggested is to reduce the maximum amount of capital claimants are allowed to have from £16,000 to £6,000.

Those living in large houses could also have their discounts capped at the equivalent of smaller band C and D homes.

Meanwhile, self-employed bill payers face having their income set at a minimum of 35 hours per week times the living wage – leaving them an average of £682 out of pocket a year.

But perhaps the most contentious option is to include child benefit and child maintenance as income when applying discounts – an option officers admit could have a “potentially adverse impact on families.”

Maintenance payments are primarily paid to single parents by ex-partners, while child benefit adds £1,788 to the yearly income of a two-child family. It is estimated the move would affect 1,726 families, leaving them an average of £177 worse off a year.

Cllr Cook says he realises the proposal could be a divisive one.

“We completely recognise that,” he said. “There was a lot of debate on whether it should go in, but it is now open to discussion.

"It might be people say income is income is income. Others may say we’re penalising single parent families and that’s unfair. There’s an argument on both sides.

“That’s the whole point of the consultation.

“It might be people say income is income is income. Others may say we’re penalising single parent families and that’s unfair. There’s an argument on both sides" - Council leader Simon Cook

“It’s not clear cut, and that’s why it’s in the consultation.”

Councillors will also debate the introduction of an exceptional hardship scheme, with individual cases looked at on their own merit.

Officers say it would provide a safety net for households suffering “exceptional hardship”.

The options will be discussed at a special meeting this afternoon (Thursday) of the policy and resources committee, of which Cllr Cook is chairman.

It will decide which to put out to public consultation, which is likely to start next month and last 12 weeks.

Any changes would be introduced in April next year.

Cllr Cook said: “The key thing is that nothing is decided – it’s only going out for consultation to see what people think of it.

“People might say the proposals are still too generous. I don’t think that’s true, but it’s a possibility.

“While we’re protecting people with low income and low assets, we should not be subsidising people who are more fortunate and shouldn’t be in receipt of the benefit.

“We’re trying to do the right thing for people everywhere.”

Canterbury City Council's policy and resources committee voted unanimously on Thursday to put the proposals to public consultation for a 12-week period from June.

Plans to also count child maintenance payments as 'income' when assessing council tax relief have been dropped.