Council Tax increase 2025
Discussion
Speaking to friends who live locally, the response to Council Tax increases is twofold. On the one hand, people realise that adult social care is a rising cost and one that central government appear happy to devolve to local authorities. Someone has to pay; if it wasn't collected via Council Tax it would be something else. So there's a metaphorical shrug of the shoulders going on.
On the other hand, people witness waste and mismanagement of resources all the time. For example, round here they recently removed all the road signs (the ones that tell you the name of the street) and replaced them with brand new ones. Why? The old ones were fine. There seems to be an obsession with providing cycle lanes which no cyclists ever appear to use because they aren't maintained. Or there's the bus service that goes past my house a dozen times a day: the bus is always empty of passengers. And so on.
Broadly, what happens if every year people face increases in the cost of food, energy, broadband/mobiles, Council Tax, water and everything else yet their income scarcely changes? Public services become steadily worse while people feel poorer - as another poster said: when will it end?
On the other hand, people witness waste and mismanagement of resources all the time. For example, round here they recently removed all the road signs (the ones that tell you the name of the street) and replaced them with brand new ones. Why? The old ones were fine. There seems to be an obsession with providing cycle lanes which no cyclists ever appear to use because they aren't maintained. Or there's the bus service that goes past my house a dozen times a day: the bus is always empty of passengers. And so on.
Broadly, what happens if every year people face increases in the cost of food, energy, broadband/mobiles, Council Tax, water and everything else yet their income scarcely changes? Public services become steadily worse while people feel poorer - as another poster said: when will it end?
East Hampshire, Band F (Which itself is a bone of contention. The purchase price of the (new build) house back 1993 means it falls into the lower band by approx £10k but appeals for a reband failed for reasons know only to the council. 
)
£3200, up 5.1% overall. HCC up 5%, EHDC up 3.4%, Parish Council up 7.8%
Of course, my single occupancy has been quietly forgotten about which will require mild faffing to get reinstated. A cynic might suggest such an omission is deliberate but I expect it's just incompetence. Maybe if they charged more they could employ someone capable to oversee council tax accounts.
)£3200, up 5.1% overall. HCC up 5%, EHDC up 3.4%, Parish Council up 7.8%
Of course, my single occupancy has been quietly forgotten about which will require mild faffing to get reinstated. A cynic might suggest such an omission is deliberate but I expect it's just incompetence. Maybe if they charged more they could employ someone capable to oversee council tax accounts.
Band G here rising from a bargain £3623.29 to an unbelievably-amazing-value-for-money £3935.72.
I'm so grateful as a resident that there's nothing that can be done to avoid paying this nor contest the increases, and am always delighted to see the finances raised being spent in an entirely credible and sensible way by the council. The shattered moonscape that laughably passes for local road surfaces definitely reflects these careful and considered spending plans.
It's always amusing to see roadworks popping up across the region as we approach budget-year-end. But it's never to facilitate repairs to existing craters, it's almost always some idiotic traffic calming scheme or speed mountains. I suppose that along with the yawning chasms keeps vehicle speeds down.
I'm so grateful as a resident that there's nothing that can be done to avoid paying this nor contest the increases, and am always delighted to see the finances raised being spent in an entirely credible and sensible way by the council. The shattered moonscape that laughably passes for local road surfaces definitely reflects these careful and considered spending plans.
It's always amusing to see roadworks popping up across the region as we approach budget-year-end. But it's never to facilitate repairs to existing craters, it's almost always some idiotic traffic calming scheme or speed mountains. I suppose that along with the yawning chasms keeps vehicle speeds down.
nuyorican said:
ChocolateFrog said:
Only around 60% of households pay the full CT. I bet it's way less in some areas.
So is this why no one complains about it? Nearly half the population don't have to pay?Seems all very mysterious. I want to get to the bottom of it, if there's a way to not have to pay, or pay less, I want to know.
400 second homes being charged the surcharge though. Would live to know the scenarios for having a second home round here.
ChocolateFrog said:
nuyorican said:
ChocolateFrog said:
Only around 60% of households pay the full CT. I bet it's way less in some areas.
So is this why no one complains about it? Nearly half the population don't have to pay?Seems all very mysterious. I want to get to the bottom of it, if there's a way to not have to pay, or pay less, I want to know.
400 second homes being charged the surcharge though. Would live to know the scenarios for having a second home round here.
nuyorican said:
paulguitar said:
Me too. I'm afraid we count as cyclists...
I believe to be categorised as a cyclist you must meet the following criteria:- wear lycra
- wear a helmet
- be believed to be of a mean-spirited sanctimonious disposition.
I use cycle paths but have had a few incidents of being yelled at randomly from passing cars at night. I'm not even on the road, and the bike still upsets a few nutjobs.
richhead said:
think mine will be 15% hampshire, no idea where the money is going, doesnt look like they have spent any on services.
was near 2k last year
They usually send you a leaflet explaining where the money goes. The bulk will be on social care. You can expect roughly 10% to be going on roads, 10% on bins, and if your lucky, a few % on sports facilities and libraries, and those latter ones have to be sacrificed first during a budget crisis so the critically important stuff can continue.was near 2k last year
SmoothCriminal said:
Just another thing about rip off Britain.
s
tter services more money.
All my council has done is cut services yet increases council tax by the maximum.
Funny how they never cut their allowances.
Just like Westminster snouts in the trough
IIRC circa 25% of council tax receipts go into the pension pot. Nice. s
tter services more money.All my council has done is cut services yet increases council tax by the maximum.
Funny how they never cut their allowances.
Just like Westminster snouts in the trough
ATG said:
richhead said:
think mine will be 15% hampshire, no idea where the money is going, doesnt look like they have spent any on services.
was near 2k last year
They usually send you a leaflet explaining where the money goes. The bulk will be on social care. You can expect roughly 10% to be going on roads, 10% on bins, and if your lucky, a few % on sports facilities and libraries, and those latter ones have to be sacrificed first during a budget crisis so the critically important stuff can continue.was near 2k last year
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