Council tax could rise for four million households

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Council tax could rise for four million households

February 28th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

By
Steve Doughty

Last updated at 9:03 AM on 28th February 2012

One in five town halls is still holding out against the Coalition’s demand for a council tax freeze.

The stand-off means that as many as four million households face bills going up by between 3 and 3.5 per cent next month.

A typical benchmark Band D bill in England would rise by some £50.

Despite ministers attempting to argue for the freeze the rise could harm four million households

Ministers have been trying to persuade town halls to hold down bills for the second year running.

But around 30 councils have indicated they will put their tax up – in all cases at or below the 3.5 per cent threshold that would force them to seek voter backing.

They have been called ‘referendum dodgers’ for avoiding calling a ballot they would probably lose.

Another 30 councils have yet to declare their intentions and have only a fortnight to do so.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles
said: ‘With two weeks to go, we now know that the majority of councils,
over 300 in fact, want to freeze bills for their residents in tough
times.

‘Not everyone has
set out their budget plans yet so I expect to see those taking up the
Government’s freeze deal to climb further.

Eric Pickles

Eric Pickles is encouraging councils to refrain from a rise in taxes

‘A minority of out-of-touch authorities that seem unwilling to accept our offer should face up to the fact that it is unnecessary and it will hit hardworking households in the pocket.

‘Residents will spot that many neighbouring councils are able to offer to freeze.

‘After 1997 bills were allowed to double to around £120 a month – freezing council tax again is a very tangible way to show the public they’ll get the help they need.’

Ministers are aware of the impact of council tax rises, especially on middle-income earners struggling to pay mortgages on family houses, and on retired people with limited incomes who continue to live in family homes that attract heavy tax bills.

They also know that the effects of council tax are greatest in southern England, where bigger bills may lead to disaffection among traditional Tory voters.

Labour allowed council tax bills to more than double in the years after the 1997 election, provoking discontent which threatened to spill into civil unrest in 2003.

That year saw average council tax bills rise by 12.5 per cent.

Last year’s freeze was managed with the help of handouts from the Treasury.

This year authorities that freeze their bills will get the equivalent of 2.5 per cent of their council tax income in direct grants.

Three councils – Brighton, Taunton Deane and Scarborough – had said they would put their tax up this year but have climbed down.

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

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Council tax has been way too high for a long time. We need to get out on the streets and let these extortionists know how we feel (peacefully of course).

– Tax Tax Tax, No Money UK, 28/2/2012 11:25

Given the fact that public services have been cut and wages all but frozen i think that a reduction is needed and not just a freeze.

– martin, bury lancs, 28/2/2012 11:00

In one US state they sacked the whole ‘council’ or their equivalent to it and outsourced all the services it provided to private providers saving 25%.
Services like bin collection / school catering have been outsourced in many areas so the socialist /union arguments of protecting the poorest (bib men/dinner ladies) are misleading.
Council costs are increasing as we private sector employers are paying for over paid quasi professional white collar staff – Directors of communities and Partnerships etc.These salaries are often c60k plus but typically the staff in them are poor quality / second raters from the labour expansion of HE in the 1990s.
The top quality people who became accountants, engineers, lawyers are actually worse off then these second raters who joined public sector gravy train in the late 90s and have pension pots worth 100sk. I have been trying to move to a soft berth in the public sector – those recruiting won’t hire people better than themselves.

– Anon, London, 28/2/2012 10:58

The ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL in SCOTLAND have INCREASED the poll tax as well. It is a disgrace but I suppose they have to get the money from somewhere. There will be riots on the streets again as hard WORKING folk are getting fed up with it all.

– m t, uk, 28/2/2012 10:50

You really can’t blame the unemployed “scroungers” for not bothering to work, the council tax after mortgage/rent is a millstone around our necks and seriously needs reducing or scrapping, how can they justify the obscene amount it costs? and how can they justify subsidising public sector pensions out of it? scrap the council tax and people will have better motivation for working.

– Dead Beat, One Horse Town, 28/2/2012 10:36

Every Council should publish the pay and allowances that every single councillor receives – there are councillors who on the one hand have slashed and burned their local ‘town hall’ departments and have thrown thousands of employees onto the dole – whilst maintaining and in some cases increasing their own personal income. Each and every councillor throughout the UK should justify their existance to us the taxpayers. Next time my local councillor asks for my vote I will want to see his/her income from ‘council work’ before I vote for them.

– Ex Service Veteran (RAF), Hut 3 Stalag Luft 12 South Yorkshire Gulag EU(SSR), 28/2/2012 10:30

Council Tax is hugely unfair and I bitterly resent it as it has become as bad as a mortgage when I least need it at my time of life. As far as I am concerned I am paying to have other people’s children educated and the bins emptied, plus fat salaries and golden pensions for the people in power in local government.

– Mike, Oxfordshire, 28/2/2012 10:29

I was always FOR the Poll tax, much fairer way to charge for the use of services. It was hijacked by the lefty brigade. In those days before the internet. It meant parents with adult offspring at home could seen them paying a fair share. An old age pensioner wouldn’t use as much as a large family. Single people and couples, wouldn’t be subsidising large families. As we don’t have any street lights after 12 midnight, I should think our Suffolk Council has saved a pretty penny.

– Mrs. B, G.B., 28/2/2012 10:24

It shouldn’t be advice or a recommendation to freeze Council Tax, it should be an order from central government. All the hands-on workers have been made redundant or their work privatised. But the ‘officer class’ on high salaries are still there sitting in a comfortable chair with job security. Councillors work hand in glove with council officers, it’s a back scratching exercise, (you scratch mine and I’ll scratch yours). Officers get the perks and pay rises through job upgrades, by-passing a direct wage increase and Councillors get their expenses or a meeting they haven’t attended approved without scrutiny.

Just like central government, there’s no accountability.

– Tom, Liverpool, 28/2/2012 10:06

The so-called poll tax riots were caused by the scroungers who live of the state and suddenly found that they would have to start paying their fair share. A good idea but unworkable unfortunately

– fred, york, 28/2/2012 09:56

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