Who to complain to re Town Council

[carreauchompeur]

Folks, wondering where to go with this. I have noticed on the council tax bill that the local town council precept has gone up by 40%. This is a not insignificant rise, even in money terms it is at least 50 quid a year.

From a local group on Facebook I have seen some meeting minutes in which a local councillor says he thinks a 40% rise would be tolerated, a comment from another they should report the percentage rather than amount however nothing else regarding this rise. No justification no nothing. I don’t really trust them not to squander it, and it seems very rich that they have done this without apparent justification- seems like they’ve just plucked a huge amount out of the air!

Any ideas?

[Saleen836]

My local town council increase was 49.9% with no justification

[Andeh1]

Very simple & I encourage you to do it...

Write to your MP, they will forward your concerns to the council (right person & formally request a reply) who will get back to you with a suitable explanation articulating exactly why the increase and what it was for, in detail!

Link to do it:

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/


Everyone will moan & complain about the government, but very few will ever excersise their democratic right to engage with them.

[Riley Blue]

Unlike borough or district council tax, there's no cap on town or parish council precept increases. It's a local government funding anomaly that has been ignored for years: http://www.isitfair.co.uk/PT%20CT%20Scam.html

[g7jtk]

Don’t you want the services that it supports

[Pheo]

Most likely your district or county has removed payments for services which previously supported the council, we’ve lost various things putting a big hole in the budget.

In order to ascertain what is going on, look for the meeting minutes and addendums of where they agreed the budget (most likely January council). If that doesn’t bear fruit, email your local ward councillor.

Emailing the MP is pointless, they have little if anything to do with a town council (a cynic would say unless there is positive publicity to be had).

Our effective increase this year was 2.7% ironically the nearest towns where about 8-9% and are Tory led...

Edited by Pheo on Sunday 15th March 08:53

[Dont like rolls]

g7jtk said:

Don’t you want the services that it supports

Not all of them to be honest~

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2010/10/12/mil...

[Pheo]

Dont like rolls said:

Not all of them to be honest~

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2010/10/12/mil...

All of those will be primary authorities, not TCs and PCs. And what’s wrong with having staff working on improving biodiversity, recycling, etc? I suspect given the source, it’s the usual right wing noise.

[Dont like rolls]

Every LC is a bastion of productivity has 100% ideal budgeting.....rightieo

The Wolverhampton Express & Star.....that well know bastion of the Ultra Right (You just read a bit of the link didn't you .....)


Posted for the record, plus the st & giggles

Pheo said:

All of those will be primary authorities, not TCs and PCs. And what’s wrong with having staff working on improving biodiversity, recycling, etc? I suspect given the source, it’s the usual right wing noise.

[HarryW]

g7jtk said:

Don’t you want the services that it supports

I think explaining why the increase is necessary might help making that call. Down here in Hampshire the increase was 2%, with the local council being 2.2%. The police element though was 5% and a separate leaflet enclosed explaining why. I don’t like it but at least they explained (spun) it. I’d be more than annoyed if any element was 40+% and would expect and seek explanation for it, wouldn’t you?