Council Tax

[flip_flop]

My council tax has gone up by 17%.

How the hell can they justify a 17% increase?

17%.

I know, putting it mildly, that councils aren't the most efficient organisations in the world and that, outrageously, 25% at the last count goes into the pension pot for council workers, but even so. 17%?

I'm bloody furious.

[R1Geezer]

Ouch! which is your council flip-flop? Bet It's Lib dem!

[flip_flop]

I wish I could blame it on the Lib-Dems or Labour, but its Tory (where I live the Tory party could have monkeys' stand and they'd get elected).

[Gromit]

The Highest Council tax rise in the country is in Tory Controlled Trafford and that is 5%.

The second highest is Slough with 4.95%

The national average is 3%

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/artic le5810664.ece

Are you sure its not 1.7% flip_flop?

[flip_flop]

It has gone from �252 per month to �294 per month - which by my maths is 17% (granted, I only briefly looked at it last night, so shall look more closely tonight. But the �294 figure quoted above is definitely the new amount - I'll double check the statements from last year to see if I've made a mistake on the �252 per month figure).

[flip_flop]

Ignore that, have just checked with Mrs Flop and the �252 figure was in 2006 (must ensure proper facts and figures are to hand before posting a moan!!!).

[New Judge]

I�m similarly confused, flip_flop.

I in no way condone Council Tax increases by any means. In fact, I find the whole business of local government an appalling waste of money and the Council Tax system (where two people living in a house pay the same as ten living in an identical house) extremely badly framed.

However, having set out my stall, I have looked at the council tax increases for England and Wales for the coming year. The average increase is 3.06% and the highest is 5% (in Bury and Trafford). Scotland, needless to say and no doubt as a result of the munificence of their English counterparts, has decided not to trouble its council taxpayers with any increases at all. Clearly with a Conservative controlled council you cannot live in Northern Ireland.

So what has happened? Has your house been rebanded for any reason? In any case, �3,528 per annum is a huge bill. Band H in my area is just over �2,500. I have not looked at all the Council Tax charges in detail, but looking quickly the highest I can find is Band H in Rutland at �3,241.

Are you sure you�re not paying something else along with your Council Tax?

[squarebear]

I think you will find that the council don't actually take that much. Most of it goes on the police and fire service. Check your bill for a breakdown.

[craft1948]

NewJudge he's not paying �3528.00 - surely if he's paying �294.00 per month the bill is �2940.00 as it's over 10 months....

[tamborine]

How else are they to recoup their losses from investing in Iceland banks?

f00kers!!!

[McMouse]

Council spend huge amounts on gold plated pensions and bonding jollies for the losers they employ.

[Jillius]

It's about time all these benefit scroungers were made to pay. They can afford to smoke and drink so they should be made to contribute something. Why the hell should we work every hour god sends to pay for them as well. Absolutely ridiculous.

[New Judge]

Yes, thanks for that craft.

I forgot you got two "free" months in most areas (because, presumably, their computers cannot divide by twelve!).

[rov1200]

As there are millions out there losing their jobs I suppose someone has to pay for the extra rebates?