Cllr Russ Bowden Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Eagle - The Council Tax income is about £73m, with an initial collection rate of about 98%. The vast majority of the rest is eventually recovered, with a very low rate of write-offs where the debt is irrecoverable (due to death or untraceability) or else it is uneconomic to pursue - last year that equated to a fraction of 1%. Your figure bears no resemblance to the actual recovery and was probably gained from the same "source" as Mr Cameron's nonsense of a few weeks ago, with which even well-known local Tories disagreed. It looks more like the amount still to be paid at a given 'snapshot' point in time, since it is more than the total amount written off over the period since Council Tax was introduced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P J Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Cllr Bowden, do you deny that the rise of 1.98% is set to come just under the 2% figure that would trigger a referendum or are we to believe it is simply coincidence? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 Be interested if the Barnet Formula still exists and how N/West Councils compare to the S/East ? After all, local taxation can be a case of the poor paying for the poor, in poorer areas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Parish Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 £827.12 - Band E Council Tax in Westminster Council area http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/tax/10988691/Council-tax-how-does-your-bill-compare.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 But Steve... the rates are calculated based also on the number of properties within a borough aren't they? There are very few actual residential properties in Westminster and so they probably only need one bin lorry and very few social workers; hence their council tax bills are lower because they don't need the income? Their council don't waste millions on 20mph speed limits while cutting old peoples free bus transfers to day centres or millions on cycle lanes that cyclists do not use..... maybe they just spend and manage their incomes better than Warrington does?.... or are you just having a lefty go at the rich people again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 London is a Mecca for oligarchs who, having fleeced their own countrymen; invest their spoils in the London property market; thus inflating property prices beyond the reach of the Plebs required to service the City. Property, being static, is probably the easiest accessible means of redistributing wealth. London and the S/East have a higher proportion of such wealth; hence the introduction of the Barnet Formula, which served to redistribute wealth throughout the UK, via rate support grants. The present Gov are cutting rate support grants, and at the same time placing a 2% cap on Council precepts; thus placing Councils between a rock and a hard place; either - they can cut services to stay within revenue sources; or increase revenues to meet service commitments. However, no one likes paying tax, least of all those with the least money, thus any referendum on local taxation would be asking turkeys to vote for Christmas. The money is available in this country, over 80% of it controlled by just 10% of the population; So, if we really are "all in it together"; it would seem a no brainer to suggest redistribution as the answer to current woes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 But that is the "leftys in opposition" attitude to taxing the wealthy Obs.... when in opposition (as they have been for the past 4 or 5 years - and long may it continue in my opinion) they all bang on about those nasty rich people with all their money and all those nasty businesses not paying their fair share of tax etc etc and yet when they get their shot at power - which they had for over a decade; all they managed to do was borrow ad infinitum for schools and hospitals that we couldn't afford - and are now saddled with the debt for the next 100 years+ They had their chance to go after the tax avoiders - they didn't They had their chance to go after the big businesses and their dodgy tax deals - they didn't They are all talk and bluster because when they have power they all suck up to the big businesses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 Can't disagree with that Baz; but it presumes that Labour is a socialist Party; rather than a Tory Party mk2, with a conscience ! Still doesn't alter the fundamental fact that the wealth to pay for public services is available; we just need a Gov with the bottle to redistribute it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey_man Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 Cllr Bowden, do you deny that the rise of 1.98% is set to come just under the 2% figure that would trigger a referendum or are we to believe it is simply coincidence? Isn't it actually set just under the 1.99% figure that would make it even more bleedin' obvious that they wanted it to be under 2%, if you see what I mean? Some people presumably sat in a room together and discussed all of the options from 1.95% up and decided 1.98% was the maximum they could get away with without it looking like they were completely taking the wotsit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 whilst still taking the wotsit of course :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 You don't ask turkeys to vote for Christmas; hence the point of capping Councils. The added value to Gov, is that local Councils (usually Labour), will get the flak for consequent cuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Parish Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 There are very few actual residential properties in Westminster and so they probably only need one bin lorry and very few social workers; hence their council tax bills are lower because they don't need the income? Westminster has a bigger population than Warrington. You should get out more - or google before sounding off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P J Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Cllr Steve Parish, as your pal Cllr Bowden can't ot won't answer my question re pushing the rise right up to the 2% referendum trigger being cynically avoided would you please oblige. Why not go for more and ask the people? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey_man Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 To be fair to the council, they're now doing less work so they need more councillors. Or did I miss something? Seriously, one of the things that bothers me is that those councillors who do decide to defend it all - Steve, Geoff, Paul Kennedy, Russ etc - always get it in the neck. Would still be good to see one of them defend why increases are always just shy of 2% and explain how they arrive at that figure and who has the final say so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 just think that out a bit and you could argue that there will be a time when they will enough councillors so that they do no work at all at which point we will not ned any councillors as there would be nothing for them to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Folk keep asking why 1.99%; fairly obvious isn't it? 2%plus probably would lose a referendum vote, turkeys etc; so why go there ? Any consequential shortfall in revenues will be compensated for by cuts. Which is precisely where Gov wants Councils - between a rock and a hard place, taking the flak for it's "austerity" cuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P J Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 just think that out a bit and you could argue that there will be a time when they will enough councillors so that they do no work at all at which point we will not ned any councillors as there would be nothing for them to do. Or the day will come when we are all councillors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P J Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Folk keep asking why 1.99%; fairly obvious isn't it? 2%plus probably would lose a referendum vote, turkeys etc; so why go there ? Any consequential shortfall in revenues will be compensated for by cuts. Which is precisely where Gov wants Councils - between a rock and a hard place, taking the flak for it's "austerity" cuts. We all know that, they all know that we all know but they don't want to admit that they are afraid of the people that they hope will keep them in their positions. Perhaps they think the people of this town are too stupid to be trusted to decide whats best for ourselves but don't fancy saying so. A bit of honesty can't be totally alien to them????? p.s. If I was personally given the vote on say a 3% rise in my Council tax or a cut in vital services such as we have seen in meals on wheels for the aged then I would turn turkey and vote for the rise. I know I am fortunate to be in a position to make that choice but it would be nice to get the chance. It is about £3.57 per month for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 I'd vote for a rise too...but coupled with a cut in councillor allowances and a strict limit of no more than two terms in office.... clear out the career councillors! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P J Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 I'd vote for a rise too...but coupled with a cut in councillor allowances and a strict limit of no more than two terms in office.... clear out the career councillors! Well Cllr. Bowden isn't doing too badly Baz. After the Council leader, The mayor and the Deputy Leader he claimed the most of all the other 55 councillors in 2013/2014. A nice little earner at £18,589.50. Between them the councillors claimed just under £700,000. Hard times indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 nice indeed! no wonder we have husband and wife teams and career councillors! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 ... just for interest, how much would a referendum cost? You'll have your chance in May in any case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P J Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 ... just for interest, how much would a referendum cost? You'll have your chance in May in any case. Would that come out of the Council budget or be from elsewhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P J Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 its ok I found it. Referendums are to be organised by billing authorities and there is provision for recovery of expenses where the referendum is held on behalf of a precepting authority. Rules for the conduct of referendums have been set out in regulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Presumably "the billing authority" will be WBC ? In which case, it will be a cost to rate payers? So perhaps we can wait till May? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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