Couple's joy at winning fight against council tax rise

11:50am Wednesday 26th September 2012 in News By Andrea Collitt

A COUPLE have won their battle to stop their council tax being increased.
Annette and Richard Price received a letter out of the blue telling them their council tax on their Colchester home was changing from Band E to Band F.
That would have seen them pay an extra £325 a year - even though they had not made any changes to their Scythe Way property since in the six years they have lived there.
However, the couple argued the rise was unjust and an appeal tribunal found in their favour.
See today's Gazette for the full story

Comments(5)

Say It As It Is OK? says...
2:17pm Wed 26 Sep 12

Council tax banding has never been the right way to charge for local services. Those paying the higher bands don't benefit from extra services and many paying the higher rate don't always have the higher incomes.

For the risk of being pilloried by all those who don't pay any council tax, the Community Charge introduced 20 years ago by the Conservatives was designed to make all those working pay for local services, but of course we know those who did not pay rates before decided they also did not want to contribute to any of the services they benefit from so they rioted.

A prime example near where I live there are two elderly, retired ladies, paying band E on limited incomes (but not enough to claim benefits). Whilst two doors away there is a family of 4 working adults in a band C property.

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Libetia says...
4:29pm Wed 26 Sep 12

The issue is that neither system of taxation is fair depending on the circumstances. Is it fair that a couple in full time low-paid work sharing a one-bedroom flat pays less than a company director living alone earning multiple times their combined income in a five-bedroom house? But equally, (as in SIAIOK's version), is it fair that a retired person in the family home pays more than four adults in a smaller property?
Depending on your circumstances, as with many contentious issues, you pick which ever one is best for you & your family.

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Say It As It Is OK? says...
5:13pm Wed 26 Sep 12

Don't disagree with your analogy Libetia.

Paying for local taxes should be based on everybody's individual income as a percentage of earnings. Those earning more should pay more and those not earning shouldn't be required to pay. It would be simple to administer nationally through earnings as an additional taxation and those earning more will pay more, as well as all those not paying would contribute something, if they are working. The problems will occur when this money is distributed to councils because many councils don't take a responsible approach on how to spend that money, much of which is often spent on political party projects and not always on projects that benefit residents.

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GreensteadResident says...
8:46am Thu 27 Sep 12

Council taxes are another bloody scam and what do we get for it?

The town looks like a dump.

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Im_Like_HELLO says...
4:45pm Fri 28 Sep 12

Do you folks go out and vote? I certainly hope so, for this is the only way to change things like the present system.

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