This week, we took our campaigning to the streets of Milford Haven, Wales. Residents of Pembrokeshire face the highest council tax increase in the country, if Pembrokeshire county council gets their way.Â
The 16.31 per cent increase would add a shocking £219 to the tax bill of a band D property. An increase local residents simply can’t afford.
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Our team hit the ground, drumming up opposition to the council’s plans. With a dedicated campaign website, new research, and a digital tool for residents to voice their anger, we delivered thousands of leaflets and spoke to countless residents who were all united by their shock at the planned rise.Â
With our campaign getting widespread attention, I explained to local reporters: “Local taxpayers face being punished for the council’s failure to find efficiencies, cut down on waste and balance the books.”
Issuing a rallying cry for Pembrokeshire ratepayers and citing TPA research, Callum McGoldrick highlighted that this “record breaking” rise “represents the largest percentage increase since 2000.” Check out Callum’s video below.
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There’s still time to act to stop this scandalous tax raid. If you’re a resident of Pembrokeshire, click here to make your voice heard.Â
While Pembrokeshire may simply be the worst of this year’s bunch, town halls across the country look set to raise rates too. You can help put a stop to council tax rises by signing our petition here.
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With just days to go before the budget on Wednesday, Jeremy Hunt will be putting the finishing touches to his plans. We’ve shown repeatedly over the last few weeks why it’s so important that income tax be cut or the thresholds unfrozen.
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On Monday, we’ll be hand delivering our petition to the treasury, leaving the chancellor in no doubt of what taxpayers expect. Will you add your voice to ours and sign the petition?
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TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
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National wealth service
Following last week’s revelations that NHS chief executives were demanding pay rises due to the stress of strikes, TPA analysis has revealed that the number of non-clinical staff in English hospitals on the highest pay band, between £99,891 and £114,949, has increased by a quarter in two years.
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Unsurprisingly, our chief executive, John O'Connell, was livid. Slamming the findings, John told the Sun: “Patients will be furious at the surge in fat cat managers. When taxpayers are asked to cough up more and more for the health service, they expect it to go to doctors and nurses, not ever more pen pushers.” Hear, hear!
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Four-day week trial continuing
As regular readers will know, we’ve long called out the many problems of the four-day week trial taking place at South Cambridgeshire district council. When it emerged that the council is planning on continuing the trial without the previously promised vote for all councillors, our head of research took to TalkTV to call out the latest developments.
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Speaking to James Max, Darwin Friend told viewers across the country: “They can’t really stoop any lower in forcing this policy on local residents who are going to be having no say on whether they want this to continue but are going to be forking out for it.”Â
This dodgy scheme has gone on long enough. It’s time to stop the clock off.
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Greater transparency for town hall bosses
Each year, our Town Hall Rich List exposes the number of council staff receiving over ÂŁ100,000. This week, we were pleased to see Paul Bristow MP using our research as the basis for his private members bill, to force councillors to vote on new positions with salaries of more than ÂŁ100k.
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Our head of campaigns, Elliot Keck, summed up the mood in the TPA office telling the Daily Express: “Taxpayers will be applauding this welcome proposal to ensure democratic accountability for six-figure pay packets. With the number of council fat cats growing, it's only right that councillors have a say over further additions to the town hall rich list.”
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Twelve things the government shouldn't do: Subsidies
Continuing his series looking at things the government shouldn’t do (you can find part one here), in this week’s blog, Callum has taken a look at those things taxpayers are expected to subsidise.
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From subsidies for heat pumps and electric vehicles to the digital growth grant, hard working Brits are expected to pick up the tab for all sorts of handouts. Have a read of Callum’s blog here.
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Repairing potholes is one of those basic responsibilities of councils, but which seems to be one of the most complained about by local taxpayers.Â
Even more frustrating though will be the compensation bill local authorities have to pay for vehicles damaged by unfilled potholes. One such council is Hampshire, which has shelled out almost ÂŁ180,000.Â
Town halls must focus precious resources on delivering the services taxpayers expect.
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Benjamin Elks
Grassroots Development Manager
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