I've just noticed that despite my working 47 hours a week, Council Tax amounts to 10% of my monthly take-home pay. Its about time Council Tax was reduced or replaced with something fairer...

By TGRWorzel at 21:30 on 30/04/10

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I've just noticed that despite my working 47 hours a week, Council Tax amounts to 10% of my monthly take-home pay. Its about time Council Tax was reduced or replaced with something fairer...

By TGRWorzel at 21:30 on 30/04/10
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Thanks to the debt the country has by way of the sub-prime mortgage fiasco, Worzel, I suspect you will be paying more than this after the election - whichever party is in power...

Avidreader24

By avidreader24 at 12:51 on 01/05/10
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Yup. There's more on this subject avidreader at tinyurl.com/29zm463

By TGRWorzel at 13:50 on 01/05/10
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Council tax is a regressive tax that hits hardest those on lower incomes and those - often pensioners - with fixed incomes. It's why the Lib Dems alone of th main parties have campaigned to see Council Tax scrapped. Here in Eastleigh, the Borough Council has kept Council Tax below inflation for seven years running explicitly because we believe it is an unfair tax. And we are committed to keeping it below inflation into the future, with a tax guarantee of 1% below inflation for 2011 and 2012.

By keithhouse at 12:29 on 02/05/10
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I'm happy to acknowledge Eastleigh Borough Councils recent efforts on Council Tax Keith, the biggest chunks of the increases over recent years have actually been down to Hampshire County Council and Emperor Ken...

But when I see things like the paddling pool and that new adventure playground thing appearing on St Johns Rec, Cyrils fancy tractor and the other equipment bought by Hedge End Town Council, I always think that'll be more on my Council Tax bill next year then. Not to mention the signs outside the Co-Op that I've referred to previously, where HETC are apparently sponsoring EBC: what a waste...

HETC and EBC could thus do more I think. We need to see Council Tax reduced, rather then be pegged to inflation or less...

I also think we need to move on, from equating Council Tax problems with Pensioners.
It hits ordinary hard-working people too, as I hope I have illustrated...

Last but not least. Council Tax is another reason to vote for Chris Huhne and Cleggy on May 6th. My understanding is indeed that the Lib Dems will scrap Council Tax and replace it with a fairer local income tax: hopefully not 10% though...!

By TGRWorzel at 12:57 on 02/05/10
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Hedge End Town Council too have kept Council Tax below inflation. With all these issues we do also have to balance ensuring we provide good services. The adventure play area at St John's Road was largely funded by government grant. The line we take on these things is that if there are grants available we want them spent here rather than, say, Bournemouth or Blackpool. I didn't limit my earlier comment to pensioners!

By keithhouse at 13:06 on 02/05/10
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Yes I know Keith. I just wanted to reinforce the point that ordinary people are hit by Council Tax.

I also accept that the St Johns Road adventure play area was funded by a Government grant, BUT we've got to maintain it in future, haven't we and its an ongoing liability to the Council Tax payers....

Sometimes these grants, although it is attractive to get the money to build new facilities here in Hedge End and I can genuinely see where you are coming from on that, they turn out to be a poisoned chalice...

Like PFI hospitals, the ongoing costs are a drain on resources over the longer term.

By TGRWorzel at 13:13 on 02/05/10
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Can I sum up by saying I don't think Pensioners have a monopoly on being hard-done by, when it comes to Council Tax...!

By TGRWorzel at 13:16 on 02/05/10
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I am a pensioner who has lived in this area for about 13 years. In that time our Council Tax has risen by no less than 215%. I wonder how much my pension has risen in line with that figure?!
For once I find myself in agreement with Keith House, that the system needs changing to reflect one's 'ability to pay', although I am not convinced that a local income tax is exactly the right answer.
I note that the Conservatives are proposing to freeze Council Tax for 2 years, if elected, which will help in the short term but that again isn't the right answer either.

By 156squadron at 21:46 on 02/05/10
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