Acclaimed markets return to Liverpool for 2025

LIVERPOOL'S award winning Stanley Park Market has returned for a 2nd straight year, after Liverpool Ricky Tomlinson cut the ribbon on the opening day, on 19 March. The weekly market will now be running every Wednesday, between:- 9am and 3pm until mid-December 2025, except when there are evening football matches or concerts held at:- Goodison Park or Anfield Stadium, as the site is reserved for those events. Stanley Park Market's inaugural year saw the market double in size from its initial 50 stalls and it is set to stay at this level throughout the year.  Each week, there will be up to 100 stalls selling items including:- fresh local produce, clothing, homeware, toys, and more. Visitors can also choose from lots of hot food and drink stalls, with plenty of seating available.

Councillor Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing, said:- "Stanley Park Market exceeded our expectations last year and I can't wait to see what it brings in 2025. Having it and the St George's artisan market return this year just goes to show how popular and highly successful these community driven events have been. Liverpool is known for its collective spirit and there's no better place to witness it than in any 1 of our incredible markets. They're a fantastic way to connect neighbourhoods and support our local businesses and community groups. There are loads of markets happening all through the year, and I encourage everyone to head down to 1 local to you and see what you can find.”

Louise Pritchard, owner of Just Bee Gorgeous said:- "It is crucial to support your local small businesses because they are the life blood of all communities. Your custom means so much more to a small business owner than to a giant multi national corporation and could be the difference between being able or being unable to afford a sports kit for a child, fund medical expenses or even just pay for a short break for the family. Apart from the financial aspect, you are supporting someone's dream which is fantastic.”

Liverpool is home to many beloved markets, from the weekly Great Homer Street Market (Greatie Market) to a regular programme of farmers and craft markets. For a full list of dates and locations, visit the Liverpool Council's dedicated markets webpage.

Simplified Council Tax Support Scheme comes into operation

A simplified Council Tax Support Scheme for working age people is coming into operation in Liverpool next month. Council Tax Support is a discount which helps households on low incomes with their annual bill. Around a third of households in Liverpool are in receipt of the benefit.

The changes, which begin in April, have been designed to support people on the loWest incomes, ensure they are easy to understand and provides incentives for people moving into work.

Households will get a 12 month award so they know how much their Council Tax bill will be reduced by over a year, enabling them to budget.

The changes also align with Universal Credit and provide some certainty for people moving into or out of work, whilst continuing to provide support to those that need it most.

The new-look scheme is designed to be financially sustainable but is still 1 of the most generous among the UK's big:- 'core' Cities and in the Liverpool City Region.

The upper and lower limits in net earning bands have been extended by £50 per week for couples, while for households with children they are increased by £25 per child per week.

The maximum percentage of Council Tax discounted has changed from:- 91.5% to 84%, and awards are capped at the level of a Band B property, which has an annual bill of £1,980.57.

More information is available at:- Liverpool.Gov.UK.

Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Transformation, Cllr Ruth Bennett, said:- "We are hugely proud of the range of support we offer to the most vulnerable residents in Liverpool and take our responsibility extremely seriously. However, we need to make sure that the Council Tax Support Scheme is affordable and sustainable in the long term. The changes make the scheme simpler to understand, and also provide households with a level of certainty by enabling them to know how much they will receive over a 12-month period, and is focused on providing support for those who need it most. Our Council Tax Support Scheme remains 1 of the most generous among the big Cities and within the Liverpool City Region.”

NOTE:- The new changes do not affect the Council Tax Support Scheme for pensioner households, the rules for which are controlled by central Government.