It was decided that, despite repeated promises, the experiment, which was due to end in March, would be continued, effectively indefinitely, without a vote and without a consultation.
One option is that as well as revaluation, there would be changes to the bands themselves. The system would become more progressive as a result.
Devolving more tax-raising powers offers a genuine opportunity to ignite healthy competition between the different parties involved in running councils.
One option would be to impose a lower cap, or even a freeze, on council tax rises for councils who haven’t published at least draft accounts. After all, should they be asking for yet more cash from hard-pressed households when they won’t even say how they’re spending it?
There is no denying that working practices have changed. But Town Hall bosses should not indulge in foolish experiments at the expense of Council Taxpayers.
Those paying the most as a percentage of income are not receiving better services than those paying the least. The burden is greater. The benefits are not.
As of 2021, 75 per cent of all councils have declared a climate emergency with varying target dates spawning an endless process of consultations. These projects and schemes all represent time and money that could be devoted to delivering services for residents at value.
When key performance data finally landed, the results were clear: relative to before the pandemic, most metrics got worse. Spending on agency staff, a key justification for the trial, went up, not down as was intended.
If a council is in trouble, then the more daylight on the matter the better – publishing accounts acts as that daylight. The first step to solving a problem is recognising it exists.
Our investigation into occupancy rates at council buildings found that offices were only around 40 per cent full.
In Central Bedfordshire, Council Tax is being frozen. One reason is early intervention for elderly residents, delaying the point where they need to move into residential care.
Arun District Council has decided to invest almost £500,000 of local taxpayers’ money on a luxury bed and breakfast in the picturesque town of Arundel in West Sussex.
This included visits to some of the world’s most oppressive regimes, such as Cuba, China, and Russia. The very same Council that hosted COP26 and declared a climate emergency in May 2019.
Anyone who has spent time in the Netherlands can hardly fail to see the benefits of more cycling; wider pavements and a merciful absence of cars. But the motive should not be to punish drivers and avoid the need to find savings.
Social distancing in a crowded urban park is ceaseless effort; on a rural stroll, effortless. Yet Derbyshire Police insist that we confine ourselves to the former.