Council Tax 2008/2009 - Page 9

garinda · 10-06-2008, 23:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewb

The charge is constantly levied by various people that we have the most expensive council tax in the country

Who?

As far as I recall people have just discussed the facts, the facts as printed in both the national and local press.

andrewb · 10-06-2008, 23:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Who?

As far as I recall people have just discussed the facts, the facts as printed in both the national and local press.

I know this is fun and games to you Gary.

We've already discussed this and you agreed with me.

cashman · 10-06-2008, 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewb

I know this is fun and games to you Gary.

We've already discussed this and you agreed with me.

that obviously means ya can't answer his question Why?

garinda · 10-06-2008, 23:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewb

We've already discussed this and you agreed with me.

I said that in my opinion Hyndburn's Council Tax is expensive for the level of service that it provides.

If we've agreed then I'm thrilled for you.

andrewb · 11-06-2008, 00:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

that obviously means ya can't answer his question Why?

I have no problems with answering, he's only doing it because he knows how silly I thought it was to quote the newspapers figures whilst trying to misrepresent what they showed.

What the newspaper wrote about council tax was fact, in terms of the figures were not inaccurate. Just the way they calculated the figures didn't represent Hyndburn. They had used band D figures to compare with income, which was obviously much lower than band D 'normals' in Hyndburn since only 8% of people actually live in band D housing.

garinda · 11-06-2008, 00:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewb

I have no problems with answering, he's only doing it because he knows how silly I thought it was to quote the newspapers figures whilst trying to misrepresent what they showed.

What the newspaper wrote about council tax was fact, in terms of the figures were not inaccurate. Just the way they calculated the figures didn't represent Hyndburn. They had used band D figures to compare with income, which was obviously much lower than band D 'normals' in Hyndburn since only 8% of people actually live in band D housing.

Instead of beavering away on here why don't you take the Daily Telegraph to court?

That'd be much more of a coup.

Surely you'd win, if as you say, they've printed untruthful information?

andrewb · 11-06-2008, 00:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Instead of beavering away on here why don't you take the Daily Telegraph to court?

That'd be much more of a coup.

Surely you'd win, if as you say, they've printed untruthful information?

Let me help you read it again Gary.

I said the figures were worked out accurately.

garinda · 11-06-2008, 00:15

Right, so when the Daily Telegraph printed that Hyndburn has one of the most expensive Council Taxes in the country, they were right...it's just you don't like the fact.

andrewb · 11-06-2008, 00:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Right, so when the Daily Telegraph printed that Hyndburn has one of the most expensive Council Taxes in the country, they were right...it's just you don't like the fact.

They'd have been wrong, as is evident from the first post on this thread. I'm not aware of them publishing that.

garinda · 11-06-2008, 00:29

If you're living in Hyndburn then, come back when you're earning, and when perhaps a whole month's hard earned wages goes to pay your Council Tax, before you even start to worry about putting a roof over your head, and food in your family's bellies, before you decide if Hyndburn Borough Council give good value for money, and if you think it's relatively expensive.

Neil · 11-06-2008, 08:07

As a side issue why do we have council tax banding anyway? Just because someone lives in a less expensive house does not mean they use less council services. It would be interesting to see a breakdown of public spending by council tax banded area. I know it might be hard to get accurate figures but I would suspect less money is spent on services in band D area's than band A areas.

Maybe council tax banding should be more like car insurance, as in your insurance will vary depending on what your area is costing the insurance company.

garinda · 11-06-2008, 08:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

As a side issue why do we have council tax banding anyway? Just because someone lives in a less expensive house does not mean they use less council services.

I suppose for the same reasons there are different bands of income tax, and the same reasons would apply as to why that's unfair too.

polly · 11-06-2008, 09:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

As a side issue why do we have council tax banding anyway? Just because someone lives in a less expensive house does not mean they use less council services. It would be interesting to see a breakdown of public spending by council tax banded area. I know it might be hard to get accurate figures but I would suspect less money is spent on services in band D area's than band A areas.

Maybe council tax banding should be more like car insurance, as in your insurance will vary depending on what your area is costing the insurance company.

Those are figures I would like to see too.
We live in a band D area, therfore, despite the fact that only Myself works, my husband is disabled, we pay full council tax at nearly 500 pounds above the band A rate.

The only council facilities we have are street lighting and bin emptying. There are no community facilities nearby and no sports facilities in fact nothing.Whenever I try to apply for sanything that is council aided I am nold, 'sorry you dont live in a deprived area' Now what exactly is a deprived area if it isnt somewhere that has nothing?

Now I acknowledge that we choose to live here but that is so we can have a reasonable not excessive standard of living.I also acknowledge that with our garden the house probably takes up 2 or 3 time the space of a band A house.

garinda · 11-06-2008, 09:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by polly

Those are figures I would like to see too.
We live in a band D area

Just be grateful you don't live in Hyndburn.

Did you know that according to the Daily Telegraph that we live in one of the most expensive boroughs in the country, on figures worked out using band D property?

By the way, it's properties that are banded together, not areas. You might for instance have a one bedroomed cottage next door to a large Vicarage, which would of course be in totally different bands.

lancsdave · 11-06-2008, 10:04

I wonder if the council wasted more money than the government on celebrating our national day. I hope not, anymore rises in CT to pay for being English would be unthinkable

Culture Minister Margaret Hodge confessed that her department spent 116 pounds on promoting England's national day this year, two pounds more than in 2007 -- and absolutely nothing in the previous three years.