Reply to: Gordon Bennet - hope nobody here lives in Croydon

[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.

[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]

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?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[vetran]

But this would not address the fundamental issue. The council provides services to people, not properties.
The 'value' of these services is disconnected from the property value.
There needs to be a charge with a per-capita element to recover money from those who best can afford to pay.

oh goody poll tax!

[ladymuck]

Martin Lewis, on the MSE website, has a whole guide to getting your house re-evaluated if you think you're in the wrong band:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/re...il-tax-credit/

I agree Council Tax is a poorly designed way to raise income for local facilities. 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.

[Protagoras]

Any government would be able to re-evaluate it reasonably easily. Most houses have been sold a few times since the initial valuation, many houses could be inferred based on the sale of their neighbours.

But this would not address the fundamental issue. The council provides services to people, not properties.
The 'value' of these services is disconnected from the property value.
There needs to be a charge with a per-capita element to recover money from those who best can afford to pay.

[vetran]

So get it reevaluated. 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.

Any government would be able to re-evaluate it reasonably easily. Most houses have been sold a few times since the initial valuation, many houses could be inferred based on the sale of their neighbours.

The bands could be increased so > £1m houses could pay a significant sum.

[d000hg]

2 of my nephews live in Croydon and one is not well off. Council tax pees me off. It's based on stupid out of date assessments of value. I'm band E yet my house is worth a bit less than that of my neighbours who are band D.

So get it reevaluated. CT isn't perfect but on average it tends to be about right.

Apart from waste disposal I get very little for it.

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.

[Zigenare]

No but we do have a nice shiny new £50 million council building after they gave the old one away. We do have half the street lights turned off because they can't afford to pay for electric. Potholes and bus lanes galore. We have a number of stabbing incidents that would make Mayor Khan proud. Our police are regulars in Police camera Action turning the same idiots round after they leave prison.

I pay nearly the same council tax as someone in a 2 bed flat and someone with a £10million mansion, but they are still instigating a fortnightly bin week and a 10% hike because they pissed all the money away.

General refuse is collected every 3 weeks, blue (paper) and brown(glass,plastic, tins etc) bins alternate weekly. Food bin (pink lid) collected weekly.

And you think you've got it tough...