When Councils Attack

**DiscoStu** · 7 January 2009, 10:41

I'd be interested to see a breakdown by Lab, Con and Lib-Dem authorities.

**expat** · 7 January 2009, 10:45

Originally posted by DiscoStu View Post

I'd be interested to see a breakdown by Lab, Con and Lib-Dem authorities.

You could read the results any way you want: councils that bankrupt poor people are heartless; councils that don't pursue non-payment are not only letting down the good payers, they are bribing non-payers' votes.

**AlfredJPruffock** · 7 January 2009, 10:46

Originally posted by ace00 View Post

Thousands of vulnerable people are being forced into bankruptcy as town halls use increasingly aggressive tactics to chase council tax arrears.

Some households owing hundreds of pounds are saddled with debts in five figures as a result of such action, The Times has learnt.

Pensioners and poor families have even had to sell their homes to meet huge legal costs arising from bank-rupcy orders that dwarf the original debt, according to Citizens Advice.

Bailiffs were used in 1.2 million cases to recover council tax arrears last year, and 2.5 million households received courts summonses. Of 19,156 bankruptcy petitions, one in five was lodged by local authorities. In 1992-93 the proportion was one in a hundred.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5462649.ece

Wow. Cybertory - thoughts, comments?

In broad term its good new for the economy as the increase in housing stock translates to more affordable housing for first time buyers.

I would estimate an increase of at least 3 per cent for Sterling against the Euro by virtue of this at what may appear at first sight a heartless policy - dont forget the hard wokring Counclillors need to maintain gold plated pensions when they leave office.

**expat** · 7 January 2009, 10:52

Originally posted by AlfredJPruffock View Post

In broad term its good new for the economy as the increase in housing stock translates to more affordable housing for first time buyers.

What increase in housing stock? If you bankrupt someone, that doesn't get them out of their house: if they now can't afford it, the government will have to pay for their accommodation. And they won't be liable to pay council tax any more.

**Purple Dalek** · 7 January 2009, 10:54

One would expect a few thousand across the country who won't pay, but 2.5 million? That's into the territory of people who can't pay. Something very wrong there. Suspect many of these people are vulnerable, such as single mothers and old people.

**ace00** · 7 January 2009, 11:04

Originally posted by expat View Post

You could read the results any way you want: councils that bankrupt poor people are heartless; councils that don't pursue non-payment are not only letting down the good payers, they are bribing non-payers' votes.

There's obviousley a problem though bailiffs & court orders for 10% of households per year - that's not normal. To me it's a symptom of a dangerousley failed state - tax & enforce & nothing else.

**DimPrawn** · 7 January 2009, 11:09

This might be why

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle3449049.ece

Inflation-busting council tax rises will push average household bills above £3,000 for the first time, The Times can reveal.

Council tax, water and energy bills will rise to £2,510 this year, up from just over £2,000 two years ago. Once average phone bills are added, the total rises to £3,169.

A survey by The Times and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) shows that council tax will rise by 3.9 per cent from April, with the average Band D bill increasing by £52 to £1,374.

The rise, the eleventh in succession that is above inflation, means that council tax bills have doubled since Labour came to power. In 1997 the average Band D tax was £688.94

**expat** · 7 January 2009, 11:13

Council tax rates do seem very high to me, for a tax that is not on income, i.e. for this tax, the govt is not just siphoning off some of the money that goes around, it is demanding payment of money that you may not have.

I support local income tax, because I have an irrational gut feeling that only income tax and sales tax are allowable: these taxes act upon money, not people.

**AlfredJPruffock** · 7 January 2009, 13:26

Originally posted by Purple Dalek View Post

One would expect a few thousand across the country who won't pay, but 2.5 million? That's into the territory of people who can't pay. Something very wrong there. Suspect many of these people are vulnerable, such as single mothers and old people.

You know the Worlds not quite right when you hear Daleks voicing convern over Single Mothers and Old People.

Davros would turn in his grave.

When Councils Attack