Council Tax rises

[OnlyTheBravest]

You may have seen the news that most councils are opting for the maximum rise of 5% but there are a few councils that are proposing greater increases between 10% - 15% at a time when cost of living is beginning to bite.
There should be a referendum for increases above 5% but in true screw the general public mentality the government has allowed some councils to allow the raise WITHOUT a referendum.

I am asking if you would consider signing this petition to bring this matter up for debate in Parliament.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/632944

Thanks

Petitions on the main boards aren't allowed, OP.

Signed.

Signed

Signed.

Council tax has barely gone up in years
Neither has council worker salaries
We should all pay a bit more so others can be paid a decent wage

I have no issue with paying "a bit more", but I can remember the Icelandic banks collapsing and finding out that the councils had been hiding money (millions) whilst pleading empty bank accounts.

The councils should be telling people what the raises in tax are going to be used for before they put them in place.

What you should be campaigning for is the government to fund local authorities properly. Most have lost 50-60% of their funding since 2010 and have been asked to do more and more.

You wonder why local services are so pressed - council workers are just like anyone else, it must be a thankless task in fact, given all the negativity directed at them.

A 5% increase isn't even above inflation.

What local services would you cut? Bus subsidies? Waste collections? Libraries? Children Centres? Road repairs?

@FrippEnos all those details will be publicly available. Just look on your local council website. It's not difficult.

@kitsuneghost The issue is not the raise itself but blatantly ignoring the rules in place. The council have not told the residents where this money is going, as they would have to if the rise attracted a referendum. I can pretty much guarantee you this rise will not lead to an increase in salary for council workers.

What services would you be happy that your council cut then? Because that will be the alternative.

@DaisyChain16 If councils are asking for 5+% raises then it is likely that they will be looking to cut services. A referendum should be detailing what services will be protected/reduced. It should be down to the residents of the Borough to decide what their Borough will provide as they are paying for the services. I have no faith that Councillors are priorising resident needs above their own.

Or perhaps they need the extra % to balance the books? What exactly do you think councillors get out of a council tax rise?
All the information that you're looking for will be published as part of your council's budget setting process. You'll be able to see exactly what money will be spent where and if the rise still necessitates cuts or not.

@DaisyChain16 I appreciate your point of view but residents in Boroughs facing higher rises have lower levels of trust when it comes to elected officials.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-6047942
No one is saying a blanket no to higher taxes. However, If they want more money, now more than ever before there needs to be full transparency.

Thanks for the snark, much appreciated.
The point is that you shouldn't have to look for it, it should be part of the process of the council asking to raise it.

@FrippEnos my LA provides a breakdown with the annual council tax bill. Councils also have to consult on their budget setting process. That will have been publicised. What else do you think they should do?

I totally agree that there’s a big lack of funding, and it needs to get plugged somehow.

The three councils which have been granted larger rises have been/are more or less declared bankrupt. 15% rise on bills for residents in addition to massive cuts in services.

The rise is not going to improve any services or wages, it’s going to go into the black hole while they cut absolutely everything to the bone.

Be as transparent about it as possible, which IMO means making sure that you don't have to go looking for it, it should be publicised. and even posted/emailed out.

My ridiculously incompetent council bought a Cinema, a Wickes store and a Waitrose all of which were outside the county - the financial gap is £760 Million. They are now in the process of selling these assets off.

Meanwhile services have been cut to the bone. Refuge collection is now hit and miss, libraries open half the week and street lights being dimmed.

The financial situation is pure incompetence and those councillors who created the problem are still in place. We are being told we are having a 9.9% increase in council tax and my genuine fear is that this money will not be used at all wisely. Local election aren't until May.

What is worse is my local MP has also personally become bankrupt and owes HMRC a huge amount of money. He will not be standing in the next general election.