TORIES in Southampton have defended a proposed council tax discount for pensioners.

The 10 per cent discount for pensioner households has been attacked as "madness" by opposition councillors who claim hard-working residents will have to foot the £1.3m bill.

But the city's finance boss councillor Jeremy Moulton insisted all residents would get the city's lowest ever council tax rise of 3.3 per cent.

In an interview with the Daily Echo he said pensioners deserved extra relief after a decade of financial hardship. And he dismissed accusations the proposed discount for over 65s was attempt to win votes.

Cllr Moulton also explained how the downturn had led to a drop in income from land searches, developer contributions, investments, and fees and charges such as parking, which now needed to rise.

Cllr Moulton speaks about cutting council tax bill for city residents

Below the issue of tax discounts and the subsequent affect on all residents