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Community Charge 2018/19

Posted: Sun 11 Mar, 2018 1:38 pm
by TcfL
The Mercury is reporting that HCC is proposing a rise for 2018/19 of 5.99%! Don't feel they currently deliver a service fit for the amount already charged, so presume this new rate is being set at a level of 0.01% below referendum level as they are not prepared to be democratic and go for a referendum on their proposals and service delivery!

Re: Community Charge 2018/19

Posted: Sun 11 Mar, 2018 4:07 pm
by Steve
The Community Charge (aka Poll Tax) was replaced by Council Tax in 1993.

Local Government has been starved of funds over the last decade and many authorities face going bankrupt.

The causes of the local government funding crisis are well documented, especially the increasing costs of social care.

Useful links:

Local authorities agree council tax rises for services “stretched to the limit” (iNews)
https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/councils-ag ... d-country/

Council tax rises: Your questions answered (BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-43003430

Stretched councils raid reserves to cope with social care, NAO warns
https://www.theguardian.com/society/201 ... nao-report

Council tax bills could rise by £100 a year as government relaxes cap
https://www.theguardian.com/society/201 ... ajid-javid

Re: Community Charge 2018/19

Posted: Mon 12 Mar, 2018 10:02 am
by TcfL
My recollection is that the extra monies giving to CCs for social care was, originally and at their behest, not ring-fenced and many spent it on other budget items. Since the system changed and introduced a set charge for social care CCs now see this as a univ style system to go for the maximum each year rather than have open debate or risk a challenge from the electorate. Am fully aware of the background to funding and long argued against the other party and increases in CC but now we are returning to the position of yearly increases at even higher rates. Don't forget this is also a conservative CC which promises (LTP4) a by-pass which seems to be more important to them that social care. Take your choice but for me social care comes first.

Re: Community Charge 2018/19

Posted: Mon 12 Mar, 2018 11:23 am
by newcomer
Also they added another £10m to their massive reserves. Even with my googling skills I'm finding it hard to find out how much they actually have, but one document I saw suggested £150m.

Re: Community Charge 2018/19

Posted: Wed 14 Mar, 2018 9:07 pm
by monkeyman1974
newcomer wrote:Also they added another £10m to their massive reserves. Even with my googling skills I'm finding it hard to find out how much they actually have, but one document I saw suggested £150m.
Given the mess certain Councils are in (Northants for example), I'm pleased to see a reserve. Not sure it's enough for a by-pass though!

Re: Community Charge 2018/19

Posted: Thu 15 Mar, 2018 10:15 am
by codek2
seems reasonable; I've not seen any visible cuts to services other than the mobile library, and that was done with the guarantee that no physical libraries close, so seems like a good way of doing it!

Re: Community Charge 2018/19

Posted: Thu 15 Mar, 2018 5:32 pm
by rogerstone
That depends on how much you rely on a mobile library & whether you can get to a physical one of course.

No cuts doesn't take into account moving to bi-weekly refuse collection & turning off street lights overnight.

Re: Community Charge 2018/19

Posted: Thu 15 Mar, 2018 5:50 pm
by codek2
turning off lights overnight is a good thing, but ironically also irrelevant now they're all LED!

bi-weekly rubbish is also a good thing - time people paid attention to their refuse, i bet recycling rates have improved.

Re: Community Charge 2018/19

Posted: Mon 19 Mar, 2018 2:23 pm
by rogerstone
Whether the changes are a good idea is obviously a matter of opinion.

I agree with your point on refuse but disagree about street lighting particularly as the council reduced the number of street lights a a cost saving measure as well.

Re: Community Charge 2018/19

Posted: Wed 21 Mar, 2018 4:44 am
by Darcy Sarto
I see that “Police Officers and Staff” get an increase of 3%. “PCC Commissioning” (whatever that is) gets an increase of 30%. We’re paying this buffoon an extra £1,000,000 for what exactly? :o