Gordon Bennet - hope nobody here lives in Croydon

[WTFH]

CT isn't perfect but on average it tends to be about right. CT covers things such as schools, social work, libraries, refuse collection, environmental health, police and fire and rescue. But I thing other things too... local infrastructure like street-lights, pavements, road repairs, etc.

Kinda makes you wonder what all the other taxes are for, apart from lawyers for BoJo and MP expenses claims

[Protagoras]

The Poll Tax, the details of which I am too young to be aware of, evidently wasn't acceptable to the populace either but like all taxes in the UK, it needs reform of some description. I just think successive governments are too scared after the Poll Tax debacle to change it.

The Scots apparently didn't like the 'poll tax' but it is surely fairer to levy a per-capita charge for services.
I don't think it would be that hard to scrap council tax. Just lump it into income tax nationally and pay to each council a per-capita allowance. Bit like a mini Barnett formula for council funding.

[d000hg]

Kinda makes you wonder what all the other taxes are for, apart from lawyers for BoJo and MP expenses claims

National level infrastructure? It does seem a bit odd though. Local government gets given a pot of money from central government but then they have to top it up from local taxes. Why doesn't your council tax go to central government in the first place? I suppose the idea is it's ring-fenced for your area but then poorer areas raise less and need additional help.

[SueEllen]

National level infrastructure? It does seem a bit odd though. Local government gets given a pot of money from central government but then they have to top it up from local taxes. Why doesn't your council tax go to central government in the first place? I suppose the idea is it's ring-fenced for your area but then poorer areas raise less and need additional help.

Not all councils get money from central government.

Some have opted to keep the business rates they collect in their area instead of a pot of money from central government.

[SueEllen]

The Scots apparently didn't like the 'poll tax' but it is surely fairer to levy a per-capita charge for services.
I don't think it would be that hard to scrap council tax. Just lump it into income tax nationally and pay to each council a per-capita allowance. Bit like a mini Barnett formula for council funding.

OAPs in Tory heartlands in England like Windsor didn't like the poll tax either.

And loads of students and young people disappeared of the electoral roll.

[vetran]

OAPs in Tory heartlands in England like Windsor didn't like the poll tax either.

And loads of students and young people disappeared of the electoral roll.

sadly they didn't make it a progressive tax . It is actually the fairest way because those evading tax still have to pay it.

[d000hg]

Not all councils get money from central government.

Some have opted to keep the business rates they collect in their area instead of a pot of money from central government.

Is that part of 'devolving' to have one of these 'super mayors' that various areas are doing?

[SueEllen]

Is that part of 'devolving' to have one of these 'super mayors' that various areas are doing?

Nope.

A few years ago some county/metropolitan councils who manage services like education and social services, simply decided that they would get more money if they kept the business rates they collected rather than give them to the government and get a government grant. Unfortunately they didn't figure on Covid and the resulting change in working and shopping patterns.

[d000hg]

Nope.

A few years ago some county/metropolitan councils who manage services like education and social services, simply decided that they would get more money if they kept the business rates they collected rather than give them to the government and get a government grant. Unfortunately they didn't figure on Covid and the resulting change in working and shopping patterns.

Inneresting - I had no idea it was a choice. Seems odd.