IsItFair.co.uk - Campaigning for the reform
of the current Council Tax system
Council
Tax Watch – Keeping an Eye on
Over the last 10 years
Council Tax has risen on average 3 times faster than RPI inflation EACH YEAR.
|
Year |
Council
Tax * |
RPI
Jan 13 1987 = 100 CHMK April |
Council
Tax uplifted by RPI from 1997 |
% Rise
in Council Tax |
RPI -
CZBH April |
RPI -
CDKQ April |
Council
Tax Rise / RPI |
|
1997 |
£999.44 |
155.8 |
999.44 |
|
|
|
|
|
1998 |
£1,115.25 |
160.4 |
1,029.42 |
11.6 |
4.0 |
3.0 |
3.9 |
|
1999 |
£1,194.64 |
164.3 |
1,054.13 |
7.1 |
1.6 |
2.4 |
3.0 |
|
2000 |
£1,260.24 |
167.5 |
1,074.16 |
5.5 |
3.0 |
1.9 |
2.9 |
|
2001 |
£1,336.07 |
170.8 |
1,095.64 |
6.0 |
1.8 |
2.0 |
3.0 |
|
2002 |
£1,481.70 |
174.7 |
1,120.84 |
10.9 |
1.5 |
2.3 |
4.7 |
|
2003 |
£1,712.69 |
180.0 |
1,154.47 |
15.6 |
3.1 |
3.0 |
5.2 |
|
2004 |
£1,809.45 |
183.6 |
1,177.56 |
5.6 |
2.5 |
2.0 |
2.8 |
|
2005 |
£1,910.89 |
187.8 |
1,204.64 |
5.6 |
3.2 |
2.3 |
2.4 |
|
2006 |
£1,977.53 |
192.3 |
1,233.58 |
3.49 |
2.6 |
2.4 |
1.45 |
|
2007 ! |
£2,088.08 |
196.1 ! |
1,276.76 |
5.6 |
4.2 ! |
3.5 ! |
1.6 ! |
* = North Dorset District Council
Rates Demand - Band F
! = provisional figures.
Inflation/RPI etc.
figures taken from Government
Retail Prices Index
Council
Tax vs RPI
|
|
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Creating
sustainable communities |
Ronnie Gasper Council Tax Policy Team
Zone 5/H5 Eland House SWlE 5DU Direct
line: 020 7944 4208 Fax:
02079444179 GTN: 3533 e- mai1:council.tax@odpm.gsi.gov.uk
Web site: www.odpm.gov.uk
27 July 2005 |
|
Mr X ************* ************* ************* |
||
|
Dear Mr X Thank you for
your letter of 15 June to the Prime Minister and to the Deputy Prime Minister
regarding council tax. I have been asked to reply. I would like to explain first of all
that the Government have delivered another good settlement for local government
in 2005/06 - an extra £3.5billion - 6.3% more than in 2004/05. All
authorities have received a grant increase in line with or above inflation
for the 3rd year running. In total, local government has had a 33%
real-terms increase in funding since 1997. This makes it possible for
councils to maintain high service standards without imposing unreasonable
council tax increases The generous grant settlements to
local Government, and judicious use of the Governments capping powers, have
led to the lowest average council tax increase in more than a decade - and
the 2nd lowest ever. High
council tax increases are a thing of the past. The Government have said that they will not
tolerate excessive council tax increases either this year or in years to
come. The Government
understands the concerns of those pensioners on fixed or low incomes who are
facing high council tax bills. Help with council tax bills is
available to people on a low income through Council Tax Benefit. The
Department for Work and Pensions are taking active measures to ensure that
people are made aware of Council Tax Benefit and are encouraged to take up
their entitlement to what is in effect a council tax rebate. However, local
authorities have a duty to collect council tax and failure to do this is
unfair to all those who have paid their bill. Detail of what enforcement
action local authorities take is an operational matter for them. Ultimately,
authorities do have the power to seek a committal to prison but can only do so
after at least one other enforcement measure has been taken. Committal to
prison is the action of last resort. A committal warrant will only be issued
if the debtor willfully withholds payment and the court has established they
have the means to pay. In 2003/04, only 44 people actually went to prison for
non-payment of council tax. Yours sincerely, Ronnie Gasper [Gasping at the levels of Council Tax rise ?
– Ed.] local and regional government·
housing· planning· fire· regeneration· social
exclusion· neighbourhood renewal |
||
© 2007 Peter Shouler.