30 councils in England have announced that they will hike Council Tax at a time when many residents are struggling with the rising cost of living. These 30 local authorities are choosing to reject the offer of extra money to help fund a freeze this year and are instead passing the burden entirely onto local residents. Council Tax is second only to VAT as the most burdensome tax for the poorest households. Most local authorities have chosen to freeze rates while some, like the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, have chosen to help local families by cutting rates. A number are proposing the highest possible increase in tax while dodging a referendum by keeping the increase to no more than 3.5 per cent (the threshold for a referendum). For many residents Council Tax has almost doubled in the last decade without a corresponding increase in services. Here is our most up-to-date list of councils proposing rises. If you know of any that are hiking the rates and aren’t on our list please let us know. These fig trees, planted at the heart of Westminster, are a monument to what must change there. Since the cost of the trees has been published, a number of politicians have heavily criticised the contract. When MPs return to the House of Commons on Monday they should call for an end to excessive contracts like this and many others that still prevail in Whitehall. Those of you who can get to London please join us alongside the FairFuelUK campaigners on Wednesday 7th March. We want politicians to actually meet some of the people suffering because of this issue. As a citizen, you have the right to enter Parliament and ask to see your MP. We're joining other campaigners in a 'mass lobby' on the issue of fuel duty. Last year, with your help, the FairFuelUK campaign saw off rises that would have put another 9p per litre on the cost of every litre of petrol and diesel. But petrol & diesel remain far too expensive, with diesel prices are at almost record levels. Please join us to stop future rises and demand a cut. What: National Fair Fuel Day - mass lobby of Parliament If you want to join in please visit the Fair Fuel website and complete the online form:http://www.fairfueluk.com/nationalfairfuelday.html Richmondshire Action Day What: Richmondshire Action Day Redcar and Cleveland Action Day On Saturday 25 February, TPA supporters will be joining Liberal Democrats in Redcar, collecting signatures for a petition calling on the council to scrap its plans to increase Council Tax. We will be meeting near the tall clock in High Street, Redcar, at 1.00 pm. If you can join us, please let Andrew Allison know. What: Redcar and Cleveland Action Day Burning our Money: Non-job of the week - Camden Council are advertising for four 'Outcomes and Development Officers' Campaign: Taxpayers need a break, not a Councillor Kitcat - Former Pinhead of the Month Cllr Jason Kitcat is urging councils to hike Council Tax Grassroots: Success at Bristol Action Day - On a cold morning in Bristol we were out campaigning for a cut in the salary of Bristol City Council's chief executive Campaign: The most fatuous defence yet of taxpayer-funded full-time union reps -UNISON's hollow arguments for taxpayer funding of trade unions Economics 101: FullFact look at who benefits the most from an increase in the personal allowance - TPA Director Matthew Sinclair blogs on Fullfact's article about increasing the Income Tax personal allowance
TaxPayers' Alliance Bulletin - 17 February 2012
- Parliament's £400,000 fig trees
- All hands to the pumps
- Have your say on personal tax
- Grassroots
- Best of the Blogs30 councils ignore freeze in favour of hiking rates
Parliament's £400,000 fig trees
Many of you might have been thinking about roses on Valentine’s Day but here at the TPA we were concentrating on a different variety of plant life. On Tuesday a response to our Freedom of Information request exposed the £32,500 annual bill to rent a handful of trees in Parliament. The twelve Californian fig trees are in the atrium of Portcullis House, the most modern building in Westminster which acts a hub for much of the politics happening there. Taxpayers don’t own them, they’re rented from a private company and it is believed they have cost over £400,000 since the building opened in 2000.All hands to the pumps
We are joining campaigners across the UK to support National Fair Fuel day and we need your help to persuade the Government to cut fuel duty on petrol and diesel. We've previously revealed the excessive motoring taxes that motorists are facing across the UK in this report, now we need you to help us take action.
Where: House of Commons
When: The afternoon of Wednesday 7th March 2012Have your say on personal tax
HMRC is consulting on ‘modernising the administration of the personal tax system’. They have asked 18 questions intended for the general public about annual tax statements, pre-filled tax returns, online tax accounts and improving customer services. We’ll publish our response online, which will support a breakdown of spending on annual tax statements, saving taxpayers’ time with pre-filled returns and online accounts. We will also use this opportunity to renew our call for a full merger of National Insurance into Income Tax as a step towards full tax transparency. In the meantime, make your voice heard by responding before the Friday 24th February deadline.Grassroots
Richmondshire District Council is planning a 3 per cent rise in council tax, not only for 2012/13, but for subsequent years too. Tomorrow, TPA supporters will be meeting in Richmond, North Yorkshire, to collect signatures for our petition calling on councillors to reject an increase. We will be meeting at the Market Cross at 11.00 am. If you think you can make it, please contact National Grassroots Coordinator, Andrew Allison.
Where: Market Cross, Richmond, North Yorkshire
When: 11.00 am, Saturday 18 February
Where: Near the tall clock, High Street, Redcar
When: 1.00 pm, Saturday 25 February
Best of the Blogs
Saturday, 18 February 2012
- 30 councils ignore freeze in favour of hiking rates
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