Council Tax

[emmie]

has anyone heard or read of proposals to cut the 25 percent council tax discount that single people get, as i can't find a direct link. It was reported on in my local paper, but not sure this is a firm proposal or it's being looked at.

[factor-fiction]

I've not heard that one, em

[daffy654]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2321620/Labour-plots-Bridget-Jones-tax-Party-accused-demanding-end-council-tax-discounts-singletons.html

[emmie]

i can't seem to find another link or to confirm it. This is from the Local Government council, i have put in all the requisite info but perhaps i am not asking the right question. According to the piece some 7 million get the discount, no idea if that is true either, but seems quite high.

[emmie]

daffy, same piece, that was in one of our local papers. If single people use less services, no idea if that is the case, why would they pay the same as those in large households.

[daffy654]

The only surprise to me is that it is the Labour MPs who are pushing for this.

[emmie]

i am not surprised, they have been cutting our services, and indeed it's a Labour led council, libraries, elderly luncheon clubs, not to mention selling anything that isn't nailed down.

[chaptazbru]

I have often wondered when this discount would be scrapped, surprised we've had it for so long. Hope this doesn't come about.

[Bbbananas]

So do I, being as I live alone and only just scrape by each month as is.

[vodkancoke]

Even with the 25% discount, my Council Tax is extortionate. I could do with a 50% discount! I hope they don't scrap it, it's definitely a help to me.

[chelle7272]

I have just applied for this discount with my local council and whilst they say they have become more stringent in checking your claim, there was no mention of scrapping it.

[chaptazbru]

Let's just hope it's another one of those rumours that never comes to fruition.

[Bbbananas]

Indeed

[Khandro]

The most annoying thing about this tax is that only a small proportion goes to your council, and of that too much goes on councillors salaries and expenses, the lions share is taken by central government.

[Jemisa]

em, My friends husband died in March she now lives alone in a bungalow and just 3 weeks ago she recieved a letter from the council (Clacton Essex) to say her council tax will be reduced by 25% as from the date of his death.

I thought that was general, or is it down to individual councils?

jem

[beegeebee]

Apparently a certain Mr. Clegg has been suggesting it would be a good idea.

[New Judge]

Yes this was on the BBC yesterday. The government said it had no such plans (so stand by for an announcement).

“…the lions share is taken by central government. “

Not quite correct Khandro. In fact it is the other way around. Only about 20% of local council spending comes from Council Tax. The rest is provided by central government.

What I find strange is that the “Community Charge” (aka “Poll Tax”) was castigated for being unfair. I thought it perfectly fair - the fewer adults in your household, the less you paid. But this arrangement (a small discount for single occupancy, so the fewer people in your household the less you pay - precisely the same as the Community Charge) is wholeheartedly supported.

[craft1948]

Certainly doesn't pay to be alone in life does it. You only get a 25% discount, not 50%. You'd probably use about the same gas and electricity if you were a couple, but you've got to pay it all by yourself, and if you go on holiday you usually get bumped with single room supplements.
Pity the poor lady pensioners whose husbands are selfish enough to die.

[sunny-dave]

I agree up to a point m'lud :)

Some services are going to cost the same however many people inhabit a property (bin emptying, road sweeping for instance) - so there should be a fixed element of any charge.

On top of that though, I think there actually should be an element which varies directly in proportion to the number of adults in residence.

A sort of hybrid "council poll tax community charge"

[New Judge]

Not a bad idea, dave. Which makes me wonder why the Community Charge was so castigated. Just a point on the bin-rounds - the biggest cost is not collecting the waste but disposing of it. So a house producing more waste ought to pay more.

[Khandro]

//Not quite correct Khandro. In fact it is the other way around. Only about 20% of local council spending comes from Council Tax. The rest is provided by central government.//
Not quite correct New Judge. "The rest is provided by central government." the 80% is not 'given' it is collected and is supposedly re-distributed, but in most cases this does not happen.
If councils could keep and spend 100% of what is collected in council tax, you would be living in a different very environment.