And now comes the new "basement tax"

[SueEllen]

Thank you... Indeed, that is what I was coming to, as you can see my frustration in understanding as to how the govt taking the money helps the neighbours in sorting out the issues they would have had with this.

This is similar to bank fines... The fines that banks pay to govt. because they have caused inconvenience or damaged something for the customers, goes nowhere near the affected customers. It goes straight to the govt. and god knows where it goes afterwards.

I will never understand the concept behind all this, I think.

The local council taking 8K from them pays for the local council to deal with the neighbours noise complaints about the construction. It isn't enough but if the council "fined" the billionaires more one would take them to court to argue that the council were profiteering.

Also 8K isn't enough for the neighbours as some are elderly or work from home so are in all the time. They would simply rather not deal with the noise of drilling and the ground vibrating at all.

Bank fines mean that customers who don't get "fined" get free banking. It's across subsidiary.