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30 years on from the introduction of council tax, our latest research has revealed just how dramatically this burden on households has grown. Since 1993/94, the first year it was levied, the average Band D council tax bill across England has increased by a shocking 79 per cent in real terms!
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When it was first introduced, the average Band D bill was ÂŁ568 but this has now rocketed to ÂŁ2,065. Huntingdonshire topped the table having hiked rates by an eye-watering 149 per cent in real terms. South Cambridgeshire, who regular readers will recall are currently conducting a reckless experiment with a four-day week, came second with a rise of 142 per cent. By comparison, Wandsworth has increased their council tax by just 1 per cent in real terms, the lowest of any local authority. Since 1993, there have been 9,462 individual tax rises compared to 404 freezes and just 363 cuts.Â
Our findings dominated national and local media, featuring on the front page of the Daily Telegraph and Yorkshire Post, and with write-ups in the Mail, Sun, and Times to name just a few. Responding to the findings, our chief executive, John OâConnell, didnât mince his words: âHouseholds in every corner of the country are being hammered by higher rates year after year. Three decades since its introduction, the relentless climb of council tax shows no sign of reaching its peak.â
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The latest leg of our Town Hall Rich List Roadshow saw our team in Sheffield, where just seven members of staff cost local taxpayers over ÂŁ1.15 million! When we asked residents whether they felt these princely pay packets were justified, their answer was a pretty resounding âNo!â
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Continuing our tour of the country in a couple of weeks, weâll be heading to Kidderminster where the corporate director: economic prosperity and place received an astounding ÂŁ286,230 in 2021/22. Let me know if youâd like to come along and meet the team.
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TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
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Shady deal for asylum ships
Weâve long warned about the importance of transparency when awarding government contracts and the need for a competitive tendering process, but sadly the message doesnât seem to be sinking in. This week it emerged that ministers have signed a ÂŁ1.6 billion deal covering the UKâs asylum accommodation ships, without any competition.
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John was quick to question the shady deal when he spoke to the Independent: âThis murky contract leaves taxpayers in the dark. The migrant crisis may require an urgent response, but bungled procurement has cost a fortune in recent years.â Ministers and civil servants must do all they can to ensure contracts are awarded through a fair and open tendering process that secures value for money for taxpayers.
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HMRCâs out for summer
Weâve probably all had to endure calling HMRC at one point or another. While it may not be something we relish, it is useful to be able to speak to someone when trying to navigate our absurdly complex tax system. Unfortunately, for anyone with a question about self-assessment, no one will be available this summer as HMRC plans to close their helpline until September!
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TPA researcher, Jonathan Eida, called out the latest cutback from civil servants telling BBC News: âWorkers trying to do the right thing require assistance all year around, and for many people going online presents a number of challenges. HMRC should reverse this decision and pick up the phone this summer.â Hear hear!
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Is paying more tax patriotic?
After the shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, described paying more tax as âpatrioticâ, John spoke with Colin Brazier on LBC to point out that it might be more patriotic for politicians to start cutting the tax burden instead.
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John rightly told LBC listeners across the country: âItâs not particularly patriotic for politicians to continue to whack taxes up to record levels and just ask us to all sit back and meekly take it⊠If they stepped back and allowed us to keep more of our money, that might be a patriotic thing for them to do from a taxpayersâ perspective.â
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Home working continues
18 months on since work from home guidance was dropped, it seems like civil servants still havenât got the memo. TPA staff were shocked to learn that during the last week of May, attendance at five government departments barely exceeded 30 per cent!
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Our media campaign manager, Conor Holohan, summed up the situation perfectly, telling the Daily Mail: âTaxpayers resent paying for empty desks. The Government should sell off unused space or get workers back behind their desks.â Quite right!
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Taking away takeaways
In this weekâs blog, Joe Otten, Liberal Democrat councillor for Dore and Totley in Sheffield, takes aim at the public health blobâs latest bonkers scheme. Local health chiefs at his council have proposed a ban on new street food vendors during the day within 800 metres of a secondary school.
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Highlighting the absurdity of the proposed ban, Joe points out: âTobacco, alcohol, gambling and pornography, I think most would agree, are greater vices than chips and pizza, yet we donât ban them altogether within 800 metres of a secondary school for adults and children alike⊠If my childrenâs worst vice turns out to be a takeaway from the local chippy I will be happy.â
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It seems like everytime a local politician decides to âinvestâ in a building, it ends up costing taxpayers money. This week, we bring you the case of Northamptonshireâs police and crime commissioner (PCC) who managed to spend over ÂŁ3 million on a garage workshop to repair police vehicles which sat empty for more than two years and will now be sold for a loss.
After refit costs spiralled to an unbelievable ÂŁ16 million, the local PCC now expects to lose at least ÂŁ1 million on the sale. Officials must treat taxpayersâ money with the respect it deserves and put a stop to these unacceptable levels of waste!
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Benjamin Elks
Operations Manager
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