A PIONEERING scheme to protect benefit payments is to be continued.

Labour chiefs at Durham County Council angered Conservative ministers in 2012 by introducing a Local Council Tax Support scheme which meant no working-age council tax benefit claimant would see their payment reduced.

The Government had wanted town halls to respond to their welfare reforms by cutting payments.

Now the council has agreed to continue the scheme for a third year, covering 34,000 households.

Alan Napier, the council’s Labour deputy leader, said: “We believe that the continued support given to these vulnerable households is essential as they cope with the impacts of the Government’s welfare reform agenda.

“This decision means that those people who are struggling will not face the added burden of additional council tax payments.”

Conservative group leader Richard Bell asked how much the scheme had cost.

Don McLure, the council’s corporate director for resources, said in April 2013 it had been thought it would cost £4.6m, but the true cost would be slightly lower.

The Liberal Democrats backed the scheme’s extension, saying it was making a huge difference to many families across County Durham.

The scheme was paid for by cutting council tax discounts on empty and second homes and charging 150 per cent tax on long-term empty properties.