Forum Topic

Would you favour a local  referendum to increase council tax?

I have moved by question to its own separate thread. Would you vote to increase council task? Some councils are asking their voters https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/10/liverpool-plans-citizens-poll-on-proposed-10-council-tax-riseWould you vote to pay a rise in council tax? By way of declaring an interest, please confirm that you are a council tax payer. I am a council tax payer and do not favour an increase in tax. But so far on the A Stroll around Ealing ...thread where I originally posted this there are two posters in favour of a tax rise.

Graham Weeks ● 3020d19 Comments

Governments waste billions.  There was a programme not that long ago showing some ridiculous contracts and waste.  The people making decisions often don't seem to be clued up enough on what they are making a decision about.  "Who's wasting Britain's billions?" it may not still be available on iplayer but there will still be press articles about it and the secret outsourcing contracts that deliver very little for a lot of money.Many years go people would never dream of just dropping their litter or of not clearing up if their black sack was torn open on the pavement.  They would have made sure that they kept their black sack in a bin - as many of us did before the wheelies.  It was always the same houses with a constant problem.  Opposite me there are flats with bins but no-one had the nous to do anything to stop them being overturned.  They could have been tied to the wall.  They could have had a brick in the bottom of the bin or quick-set concrete or a bric on the lid.  But no - no effort whatsoever.  Just blame someone else.  And don't blame all the packaging - because you bought it and in most cases you need not have.  When you don't protest it is taken not just as tacit approval but as encouragement.

Philippa Bond ● 3006d

Yes that seems like a good idea to me

Alex Nieora ● 3007d

Totally agree with you

Harold John Ward ● 3007d

I totally agree with you it's all about political games and as for a referendum if they do the same when they ask our opinion and when they get it they still do what they won't to do as always

Harold John Ward ● 3007d

Look at the Labour councils council and govts record of economics ! How much has the govt really cut to Ealing ? Look at the increase in population ! Why are Labour never left accountable?

Dennis Brogan ● 3013d

I  agree with both Nick and Penny. It's unrealistic to expect Council services to remain at the same level when budgets have been severely reduced. But any increase raised for a specific purpose like social care would need to be ring-fenced and transparently audited and accounted for. I'm a definite yes under these circumstances, but without this  safeguard wouldn't trust our council an inch to spend it where  it's needed.

Christine Gratus ● 3014d

I am a council tax payer and I would vote in favour of increasing council tax.Central gvt is giving the council less money. The council is cutting services. If we want those services we're going to have to pay for them. There is no way around it. We can't sit here and complain the council isn't sweeping the streets as often as 5 years ago while at the same time being happy the council hasn't raised taxes in 5 years, which in real terms means they're getting LESS from us.

Nick Foote ● 3014d

It would appear that I alone among posters would not have a referendum or raise taxes. 1990 to 94 as a councillor in the then ruling Tory group one took part in the unpleasant task of budget setting within the limits designated by Westminster. It was not an easy process but I am prepared to explain it to anyone interested.

Graham Weeks ● 3015d

They can't even clean the streets or answer Town Hall phones?? But diversity officers stupid carnivals ,and you want to give them more ????

Dennis Brogan ● 3015d

They can't even clean the streets or answer Town Hall phones?? But diversity officers stupid carnivals ,and you want to give them more ????

Dennis Brogan ● 3015d

They can't even clean the streets or answer Town Hall phones?? But diversity officers stupid carnivals ,and you want to give them more ????

Dennis Brogan ● 3015d

The Surrey council is Conservative, which is probably why its council taxes are well below average and would be below average even with a 15% rise.

Susan Kelly ● 3018d

They are not reassessed at all, Philippa. The bands are as they were originally set up, regardless of house price rises. This only produces anomalies if prices in an area move out of step with average prices.

Susan Kelly ● 3018d

Yes, only it really ought to be coming from Central Government.  Some Councils will be able to raise a lot more than others. When was the last time that homes were assessed for Council Tax?  I think at present the only time they are reassessed is when they change hands.

Philippa Bond ● 3019d

Yup. And I'd vote yes.

Paul James ● 3019d

A VERY Tory council has proposed it. Surrey. Can't get much more Tory than that.

Penelope Crocker ● 3020d

I would want a much more transparent council that was more open about decision making and that had cut down on bureaucracy so that we could actually quantify the good reasons for any change. Yes we all know that this government is moving the economic deckchairs around between social care and the NHS and other places which is making life difficult for councils. But this is the difficulty. We are always in politics in the blame game. If a Tory council proposed this against the background of a Tory Government it might make sense. But i feel that our one could be a political blame game football. And what would be spent on the process. Would a budget be available for campaign costs? It is fraught with so many issues. Fact finding is so hard that would the public believe the case being made? I just think that given our most recent referendum we might find it hard to see the truth?

Peter Chadburn ● 3020d

I have not sen details of what a council can propose. You would I think want the referendum to state what the money is for and it be ring fenced accordingly.

Graham Weeks ● 3020d

I am a council tax payer. I would, with one proviso. I have to be sure that the money is going to the stated destination and this needs to be auditable.

Penelope Crocker ● 3020d