MSE News: Council tax bills may rise by almost 6% - here's how to cut your costs

Former_MSE_Callum
Former_MSE_Callum Posts: 696 Forumite
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Some local authorities in England will be able to raise council tax by almost 6% next year...
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'Council tax bills may rise by almost 6% - here's how to cut your costs'
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  • minislim
    minislim Posts: 357 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Post
    our council here in oldham pleads poverty. year on year it hikes the council tax just under the threshold for a referendum.
    yet in the last few years its spent £40 million on a vanity project converting the old town hall into a cinema.

    and now has proposed a massive multi million pound redevelopment of the town centre.

    funny? i thought they had no money?

    legislation should be put in place that means they can only hike tax every other year!
  • surfsister
    surfsister Posts: 7,527 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    same in Ipswich they dug u our town hall area up twice and tried different pavers and now doing it again with other fancy paving and stupid metal 'sculptures'!! Also completely revamped the railway station and it is now dangerous to drive out of, and impossible to park at unless you pay!! and the paper shop cannot be reached without a train ticket so Smiths lose money now.


    they also spent literally millions on a revamped traffic scheme taking out roundabouts and putting in traffic lights and guess what the town is now gridlocked!!! It wasn't before!!!
  • surfsister
    surfsister Posts: 7,527 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    minislim wrote: »
    our council here in oldham pleads poverty. year on year it hikes the council tax just under the threshold for a referendum.
    yet in the last few years its spent £40 million on a vanity project converting the old town hall into a cinema.

    and now has proposed a massive multi million pound redevelopment of the town centre.

    funny? i thought they had no money?

    legislation should be put in place that means they can only hike tax every other year!

    legislation should be out in place that if it aint broke don't fix it!
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 17,623 Forumite
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    minislim wrote: »

    legislation should be put in place that means they can only hike tax every other year!

    Which would mean a very large increase every other year
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • Oakdene
    Oakdene Posts: 2,560 Forumite
    Combo Breaker First Post
    We've the cheapest in Wales, have done for years however proposals have been submitted for a 12.5% increase...
    Dwy galon, un dyhead,
    Dwy dafod ond un iaith,
    Dwy raff yn cydio’n ddolen,
    Dau enaid ond un taith.
  • Nick_C
    Nick_C Posts: 7,455 Forumite
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    Council Tax continues to raise a small proportion of what Councils spend.

    If people understood how much money their Council spends, and how little they benefit from it, there would be support for greater efficiencies.
  • Kim_13
    Kim_13 Posts: 2,402 Forumite
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    Funny the government is selling this as the increases keeping pace with inflation - the inflation target is 2%, the previously allowed increase!

    I echo all the vanity projects and their interference making certain sections of road more dangerous/gridlocked.

    Councils, like universities, will almost always charge the maximum amount that the government allows.

    Wish we all had the bottomless pockets they seem to think we have!
  • CapricornLass
    CapricornLass Posts: 668 Forumite
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    Wish that there would be legislation to keep a limit on the wages that these councillors award themselves. £200k pa + is not uncommon at county level - its obscene.
    Sealed Pot Challenge no 035. Fashion on the Ration: 24/66 coupons spent.
  • Nick_C
    Nick_C Posts: 7,455 Forumite
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    CapricornLass wrote: »
    Wish that there would be legislation to keep a limit on the wages that these councillors award themselves. £200k pa + is not uncommon at county level - its obscene.

    Surely not! That sounds more like the salary for a Chief Exec.

    Full Time Council Leaders in London can get around £60k, much less than their senior staff. The basic allowance for a London Councillor with no additional responsibilities is around £11k
  • Oakdene
    Oakdene Posts: 2,560 Forumite
    Combo Breaker First Post
    Nick_C wrote: »
    Surely not! That sounds more like the salary for a Chief Exec.

    Full Time Council Leaders in London can get around £60k, much less than their senior staff. The basic allowance for a London Councillor with no additional responsibilities is around £11k

    Agreed, our LA leader is on £48100pa.
    Dwy galon, un dyhead,
    Dwy dafod ond un iaith,
    Dwy raff yn cydio’n ddolen,
    Dau enaid ond un taith.
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