There was excellent news for taxpayers in Tunbridge Wells this week as the council announced that it had shelved plans to build new council offices as part of a £90 million project. From day one the Calverley Square project faced strong opposition from local residents and business owners. In July this year TPA staff and volunteers visited the historic town to campaign against the project. Thanks to our efforts we have been successful in getting this vanity project scrapped and it shows the valuable role grassroots action days can play in local politics.
The scheme would have saddled ratepayers with 50 years of debt on a loan of £77 million. I wholeheartedly welcome the council's decision to scrap this project but it never should have been started in the first place. Despite its cancellation it has still cost the taxpayer £10 million. Let me know what we should campaign on in your area.
The cost of councillors Next Saturday we will be campaigning in Ashfield and Mansfield to expose the difference in councillors' allowances (also known as members' allowances) between councils. Despite very similar population sizes the cost of councillors (basic allowance, travel expenses etc) are noticeably higher in Mansfield (£466,000 in 2017/18) than Rushcliffe (£233,000 in 2017/18) for example.
Worse still, Ashfield District Council has recently appointed an additional 5 cabinet members costing taxpayers an additional £60,000. Many thanks to a concerned TPA supporter who tipped us off. We are now examining the differences in allowances between other councils across the country; more action days will no doubt follow. Let me know your thoughts on councillors' allowances Burdens on business tour To promote The Bumper Book of Burdens on Business I will be attending business exhibitions across the country. A full list of events can be found below and all are free to attend. Basildon Business Expo North East Expo South West Business Expo
Following a very enjoyable and interesting conference season I thought it worth highlighting some of the excellent panel discussions we had at our ThinkTent event in Manchester. In conversation with Rt Hon Esther McVey MP Our chief executive John O'Connell sat down in front of a packed audience with minister of state for House and Planning, Esther McVey. They discussed everything from Brexit to housing and what must be done to the make UK economy more prosperous. Click here to watch the discussion.
Death and taxes: Should inheritance tax be scrapped? The chancellor Sajid Javid recently hinted that inheritance tax could be scrapped which follows years of campaigning by the TaxPayers' Alliance. A stellar panel including former Chair of the Office of Tax Simplification Angela Knight CBE and our very own Duncan Simpson discussed the case for scrapping this hated tax. Click here to watch the discussion.
No-deal peace package On Friday we published a new research paper calling for a package of tax cuts which could bring the country together in the event of a 'no-deal' Brexit. Should this happen the government could promote a competitive, low-tax and pro-enterprise economy. Writing for popular political website ConservativeHome our chief executive John O'Connell outlined his thoughts on the paper: "Popular reforms targeted at five key taxes (corporation tax,
business rates, income tax, stamp duty land tax and air passenger
duty) could provide a timely confidence boost among both businesses
and consumers. A package of strategic tax cuts would also
sharpen incentives across the economy, enhancing investment,
productivity and earnings – surely the number one long-term
economic priority after a decade of barely-existent
growth." Let me know your thoughts on the 'no-deal peace package'. Counting cash The Scottish Sun recently reported that Glasgow council chief Annemarie O'Donnell received additional pay of nearly £100,000 for overseeing elections since 2015. According to the paper, "Figures show Ms O’Donnell was paid a total of £22,663 for the 2015 general election. She pocketed a combined £29,420.50 for the 2016 EU referendum and Scottish Parliament elections. And the 2017 general election earned her £21,405."
Commenting on the news our research director Duncan Simpson said, "Many town hall bosses are continuing to pocket huge remuneration packages. Whatever extra responsibilities they take on, council officials should be doing their best to deliver value for money." Do you think the extra pay of nearly £100,000 was justified?
TPA responds to Extinction Rebellion Many parts of central London were rather unhelpfully brought to a standstill this week due to climate protests. Writing his first blog for the TPA our new researcher Darwin Friend explained how contrary to the claims of Extinction Rebellion, capitalism is the solution, not the problem. He writes: "...in reality it is clear that the solutions to climate change won’t be provided by restrictions, but freedom with capitalism and free markets creating the innovations needed to improve the environment. As we show in our recent Freedom Factbook – which we’re happy to provide to any Extinction Rebellion protestors who want a copy - sulphur emissions have declined across the globe."
And there's even better news at home, "Here in the UK emissions have fallen by 95 per cent since 1990 and between 1982 to 2016 the area of our planet covered by trees has increased by more than nine times the size of the UK." Let me know your thoughts on the climate change protests
A 5 star council chief executive? Regular readers may recall that Surrey Heath Borough council chief executive Karen Whelan was awarded a pay rise of 37 per cent, bringing her total earnings to just shy of £200,000. It has now transpired that she recently billed the taxpayer for a £400 stay in the luxury 5 star Langham Hotel in central London.
Reported by SurreyLive following a freedom of information request, the council tried to defend the opulence saying "that it always tries to balance cost and safety when booking overnight accommodation for its staff". Our political director James Roberts said the council was "leeching off residents" by allowing its staff to enjoy such "largesse". Ms Whelan has been placed on 'special leave' while an investigation takes place into her salary and expenses. What do you think the outcome of the investigation should be?
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Extinction Rebellion protesters in
Westminster this week.
