Teen beauty spot drinkers are ramblers, not rebels
- Dave Burrows
Telford & Wrekin Council tax is going up 2.5pc
Wednesday 15th February 2012, 5:00PM GMT.
Council tax is going up by 2.5 per cent in Telford & Wrekin this year – and probably for the next three years as well.
The rise – about £27-a-year for a Band D property – is proposed in the wake of a £40 million funding gap the council must bridge by 2014. Most families in the borough, who live in Band B properties, will pay 41p a week extra or £21-a-year.
Currently, householders in a Band D property pay £1,099 and those in Band B £854.
The increase means council tax in the borough is still likely to be the lowest in the West Midlands, with average bills £50-a-year less than neighbouring Shropshire.
Councillor Bill McClements said the council’s ruling Labour group also wanted to plan for the future by setting 2.5 per cent as the preferred rise for the next three years.
He said: “We can’t set budgets in advance but we are committed to the principle of a consistent 2.5 per cent for the next three years to give some protection to services.
“In these difficult times it’s better to set a sensible low increase rather than a high rise followed by a low one before an election.”
After the biggest budget consultation in Telford & Wrekin’s history, 63 per cent of respondents voted to raise tax rather than take a one-off Government grant in return for freezing rises this year.
Thirty-seven per cent voted for a 2.5 per cent rise and 26 per cent wanted a 3.5 per cent rise instead of further cuts. Thirty-seven per cent wanted a tax freeze.
The rise, along with an £8m package of cuts and savings, will be presented to the council’s cabinet on February 23 before going to full council on March 1. Councillor Adrian Lawrence, Conservative shadow cabinet for resources said: “Our group is very disappointed.
“The correct decision ought to have been to keep the increase at zero per cent.
“We recognise the situation is difficult, but people have equally difficult financial circumstances and a zero per cent increase is the most appropriate.”
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I took part in this consultation, I did not agree withany increase in costs but the questions were very heavily weighted towards increasing the council tax -follow the link and jude if you beleive the questions were fair, honest and free from bias.
http://www.telford.gov.uk/press/article/1082/consultation_begins_on_budget_and_council_tax_options
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The council is subject to the same inflationary pressures as the rest of us. Inflation has been running at around 5% for some time now, and of course the costs imposed upon individuals, councils and businesses for energy in particular have been much higher as the energy suppliers profiteer at all our expense.
With that as a background, and without wishing to make even more cuts to essential public services, 2.5% per annum doesn’t seem excessive.
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“After the biggest budget consultation in Telford & Wrekin’s history, 63 per cent of respondents voted to raise tax rather than take a one-off Government grant in return for freezing rises this year.”
Eh, why would anyone vote for a rise in council tax when the alternative is a freeze?
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Simple. Because a freeze would inevitably mean even deeper cuts into essential public services.
I don’t need many of those services at present, but I’m not so foolish as to imagine that I might not need them at some point in the future, nor that others may not be in genuine need of them now.
So for that reason, against a background of 5% or so inflation, a rise of 2.5% to try and keep local services at their current levels doesn’t seem excessive.
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Well said. In Shropshire we’ve been given no choice and our services are being decimated. What good is an extra couple of quid in your pocket if the vital services that so many people rely on are taken away in exchange? I understand that times are hard, but what kind of a society are we turning into if we are no longer prepared to support our most vulnerable?
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Because only 2280 households were asked.
63% of them in favour…. 1437… Not representative . How many of these are on benefits ????
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Who were these 2300 people who were consulted, and how was it done? Neither I, nor anyone I know in T&W, was aware of this alleged survey. Furthermore, who in their right mind would vote against a freeze for the next year?
The council says that a rise next year will minimise the rise in the following year, so this must be true, as we know that the council would never mislead us in any way, would it?
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See the first letter from T Mclean
it was on T & W web page
(the link)
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That in a time of austerity measures this cooperative council does not make the governments cut backs and burdens one of the poorest boroughs with tax rises is why I shall never vote Labour again.
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I am very confused. The article talks of increases of £27 and £21 pa, but the picture only seems to show £19.05? Can anyone explain?
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I had the £21 all ready to take a picture Lucy, but then a rogue reporter stole £1.95 for a sandwich. Can’t trust anyone around here!
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What a huge PR con by our disgraceful council, they fudge figures to justify going against the country, what a pitiful authority they are, this must be to cover public sector rises.
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Great. So we’ve got to pay even more for benefits scroungers and all the money Telford & Wrekin waste on badly managed construction projects such as Dawley, Southwater and the Donnington Rail Depot. Get these idiots out.
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a sensible and moderate amount
better than cutting frontline bin collections and things like they have done in shropshire
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very sensible when the alternative was no increase at all and a few less unison members jobs .
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I wasn’t one of the people consulted on this decision, yet I pay full council tax every year without fail.
There were other aspects to this alleged survey as well in which I feel that I should have had a voice in the matter of.
This should have been conducted with a larger representative number of people even if it was impossible to get everybody’s feedback.
And for that matter, a little bit of notification that the survey was taking place at all would have helped; at least we would have had a choice whether to speak or not.
Let’s not forget THEY work for US, not the other way round.
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Dear Mr Grumpy
You would have been Grumpy had Telford & Wrekin council sent all householders a survey and put the cost on to council tax.
No they did what was cheapest an open survey online on there website
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They have my email address. Would it have been that hard to have let me know by email? Not really.
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You are being disingenuous The oiginal Kev.
All the council had to do was to print a small box on the the council tax demand (which they DO send to every household).
The box would contain a question asking (for example): “Do you want to pay an extra 2.5% on this amount next year, yes or no? Go to web site to reply.”
Simple, no extra cost to send, widely publicised (especially to actual payers of council tax) and most people would be able to reflect on the sum being demanded for the current year and decide if they wanted to shoulder more burden next year.
Without publicity, the only respondents would be part of those who have time and inclination to look at TWC web site on a regular basis. No wonder they’re thinking of funding free broadband in Brookside – that would boost the yes vote!
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Read between the lines, this is all about making a political point against the current government not about helping and supporting the electorate.
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Does this mean thtip in Newport will stay open then? thats worth a few quid a month to me as it will save that in petrol alone
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How often do you go to the tip? Maybe you should stop buying stuff that you throw straight away and save yourself some money!
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So, allegedly, about 1500 gullible people voted for a tax rise out of a population of about 140,000…just over 1% ….and the rest of us have to go along with it?
labour democracy at work folks. By the way, I wasn’t asked either or anyone that I know.
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fair play to them, thats good economics long term and good politics getting the public to pre agree to it like that
it proves that the national governments attempts to claim council tax can be frozen without cutting services is a lie to, just look at shropshire council cutting cardboard collections and everything and using its town councils to raise the tax for it by stealth
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EVERY ONE got a chance to join in the survey, through Your Voice, the Council newspaper – which is sent to every house, the council website since July has had a suggestion box that you can feed ideas in, over 1000 people did this. Anyone can join the community panel.
Got to say, in the last few years, you would be lucky to get 1000 people to reply, this year its 3000. You lot who moan on here about it, could get yourself involved if you wanted too. Instead you snipe.
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I wasn’t even aware of “Your Voice”, let alone ever had a copy.
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Come on Emma – don’t let the facts get in the way of a good council-bashing opportunity!
I can’t see how anyone who hasn’t been in a coma for the last few months could fail to be aware of the consultation exercise. Having taken part in the on-line version I must admit that there were quite a few leading questions but generally it was quite fair.
I voted for the 2.5% increase but it seems to be the best option to avoid even more draconian cuts in services and damage to the local economy.
Before the cynics leap on board – I’m not a councillor or council employee and I pay council tax and business rates.
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No such paper has ever made it through my letterbox. I’m not exactly living in the sticks either; two minutes walk to the centre of town as it happens.
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Get YOUR facts right Emma. 2280 responded. 2280 only equals 3000 when T&WC accountants and councillors are involved.
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thats a VERY big sample size and is statistically significant
MORI polls predict voting preferences of 26 million via a sample of 1,000 persons to confidence intervals of +/- 2%!
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well done TWC
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i voted to rise it by 2.5%, i though 3.5% was too much, but 2.5% is not much really, i’ve had a 3.5% pay rise this year so i can afford it. After all this isnt letting them off the hook, they still have to find tens of millions of savings, this just makes it a little easier, by reducing the amount they have to save a bit, its also saving future tax rises as highlighted in the consultation the national offer to freeze council tax is only valid up to the election and implies extra cuts later
i also favour retaining the newport recycling centre, it does need reforming, it could be streamlined im sure, or reduced hours but complete closure of such a front line facility would not be right!
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No doubt, as soon as the rise is implemented, all those who voted for it will be getting it straight back in their council tax benefit payment, so it wil make no difference to them.
TWC should really only have asked those who actually pay the tax. Claimants should not have the right to sway a survey which gives them all the services at no cost.
Of course they voted for a rise – they won’t have to pay it.
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“all those who voted for it will be getting it straight back in their council tax benefit payment”
I voted for it, I actually pay Council Tax – I don’t receive ANY benefit, or tax credit, or pension…so you’re wrong.
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well said, too true.
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no skin of my nose but i just wish they spent every penny like it was their own, telford is one of the better ones to be fair, but most councils and public institutions waste ALOT of money and have alot of excess management and back office ‘strategic’ functions who dont deliver any actual services
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Disgusting contemptible freaks no one would vote to increase charges if the choice was freeze and take government subsidy. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE SUBSIDY? This robbing bunch of lefties are just finding ways to pay their members and unions buddies. Bailiffs wont be calling on them. Any fool knows they made sure benefit claimants received a survey no one else voted for them.
Cheers for ASDA winning their case, looking forward to free parking.
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Mike,
The government subsidy on offer was nothing more than an attempted bribe.
The money offered was far less than what would be needed maintain essential services – and was conditional upon no rise in council tax. The government’s appetite for cuts is driven as much by ideology as anything else, and the bribe was offered in exchange for forced acceptance of that ideology.
The council has taken the principled stance of refusing the bribe and instead imposing a modest rise, well within the rate of inflation, to preserve services for those that really need them.
Also, what on earth does Asda’s parking policy have to do with this? If you’re talking about parking charges in the Town Centre these have nothing to do with the council – they’re imposed by the shopping centre owners.
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More political garbage from Peter bribe or not no one cares; since when has any Councillor taken the ‘principled stance’ you’re argument is a ridculous nonsence. You have admitted this rise in my council tax is driven by pathetic unreasoned politics. You will not convince those who will have their homes repossessed and be made homeless because of this self gratifying act.
I don’t care who the town centre car parks belong to there will soon be free parking and no need to go into the centre at all. Everything is relevant! More to pay in charges and taxes less to spend. Why so defensive of the rise Peter? Something doesn’t add up here.
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Mike,
I’m struggling to make sense of your rambling post.
I believe there are councillors who take a principled stance – not all are in it for what they can get out of it.
Are you really suggesting that people will have their homes repossessed due to a 2.5 per cent increase in Council Tax? If they’re that hard up, the chances are that they would be entitled to a discount anyway. Can you provide any evidence at all that a single person will lose their home in this way – or did you just make that up?
I should have thought that the 20+ per cent rises in energy bills would have had more of an effect on household finances.
Far from admitting that this rise is being ‘driven by pathetic unreasoned politics’, I’ve made it clear this rise is necessary to protect essential public services against a backdrop of inflation at twice the rate of the proposed increase – perhaps you haven’t read the rest of the thread properly?
Councils are subject to inflation just like the rest of us – what else would you have them do?
Of course I’d like to see no rise in Council Tax – but if it comes to a choice between a modest, below inflation rise or the loss of essential public services, I’ll go with the rise every time. Adds up perfectly to me.
As for parking – you’re becoming increasingly self-contradictory – you talk about free parking – and then claim no one will go to the Town Centre as a result! Actually, never mind reading the rest of the thread, do you actually read what you’ve typed before you hit ‘Submit Comment’?
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I don’t believe any of this labour nonsense any more “protect front line services my @**#!”
If there was any truth to it then make the cuts lets find out how long they’d last in local government .They are blatant falsehoods.Only an illiterate idiot could believe these arguments.
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The survey was very loaded – with over 70,000 houses in Telford and probably over 100,000 people eligible to vote how can just over 2,000 be justified to represent the majority view. How much is the government payout and how much does that compare with the amount that a two and a half percent increase will bring in? The £40million savings needed have already been saved according to Labour by not building new civic offices – most people that I know have not been offered a pay rise this year – come on T&WC get out of the £130,000 pocket of the unions and be fair to all of us. Voted Labour all my life but never again.
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Are you really not aware of statistics Baz?
If a bowl of soup is too salty would you need to eat the whole bowl to tell or would a sample spoonful not tell you this ?
A sample – get it?
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At general elections you only get a very small amount turning out to vote.
The vote questionaire was sent in a council leaflet – I’m sure that the majority of Telford residents would have thrown it straight into the bin along with all the other useless info they get from T & W council.
Therefore the council ensured that only a sure amount would read the leaflet and vote on it hence the result was rigged to begin with as the majority of people who read the leaflet were employed by T & W council.
A bit like Turkeys voting for Xmas to be cancelled.
Telford and Wrekin council must employ oh lets say approx 3000 people.
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Ahh, the pots fill up again. The twin-towning visits and waste can commence again. Telford failed to twin with Disney World, Fl in 2009. Just imagine where the good councilors will be able to ‘visit’ this year. Worth every penny – I hear San Diego and Darwin are nice. Failing that, just invest the underspend in a high interest off-shore account along with the millions of tax payers money that is already ‘hidden’ under the mattress (but I suggest avoiding Icelandic banks). Could not be fairer than to adopt a 2.5% increase on those public sector workers whom are locked into a 0% pay deal for two years, then an average 1% for the following two years and inflation ebbing above 4%. Surely just tightening the belt like the rest of us, fair contract competion (as oppossed to always giving it to your mate at the Lodge) would be the solution.
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is this how much wonderland is these days?
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My council tax in S’bury is 266 per month.Enough. I’m moving to my small house in St Ives, Cornwall.
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