The Council Tax scandal

From Revd Paul Nicolson of Taxpayers Against Poverty

EVERY ONE SHOULD SEND A COPY OF "Council tax support;  the continuing story"

http://www.local.gov.uk/…/ad9031f0-d982-428d-bf98-5418b74a8…

TO THEIR LOCAL MP.

"Council Tax Support - the continuing story" was published by the Local Government Association in January 2015. They call on the new government to fully fund council tax support, acknowledging that the current scheme costs the councils millions of pounds and has increased the cost of living for some of the poorest..

They estimate that councils will have lost £1 billion over the three years since April 2013 when they dumped the the whole of the 10% cut in central government funding of council tax benefit on benefit claimants by taxing their poverty incomes in work and unemployment.

Over three million late and non payers are still being summoned to the Magistrates courts in England and Wales every year thousands at a time, adding court costs while threatening the bailiffs and prison to residents who cannot pay the tax.

A council tax scandal.  

​Good wishes, 

Paul

PS I also strongly recommend a read of this important research from Harvard University USA.. As Ian Duncan Smith renews his reign at the DWP it is time for him to ask what is wrong with his perspective on poverty rather than base policies on the assumption that poverty is the fault of his poorest fellow citizens.

http://harvardmagazine.com/2015/05/the-science-of-scarcity

from the Rev Paul Nicolson​

Taxpayers Against Poverty

No British citizen without an affordable home and an adequate income in work or unemployment. 

93 Campbell Road, Tottenham, London N17 0BF, 0208 3765455, 07961 177889, 

www.taxpayersagainstpoverty.org.uk, www.facebook.com/pages/Taxpayers-Against-Poverty/299911526728884, https://twitter.com/taxpayers_a_p

www.z2k.org, www.prohousingalliance.com

LGA info toward questions for 2015 General Election candidates

Local Government Association info toward questions for 2015 General Election candidates

By Dude Swheatie of Kwug

While it might be difficult to facilitate real safe contact between some parliamentary candidates and benefit claimants through getting candidates to stand with us in our solidarity visits to jobcentres and such places where poor people are not properly served, Revd Paul Nicolson of Taxpayers Against Poverty has written Lord Heseltine regarding what is really going on. A brief extract from that letter in response to Heseltine's argument that Church of England Archbishops have spoken out unwisely against UK poverty may help to inform and provide food for parliamentary candidates' thought.

The Local Government Association recommended in January 2015 that the next government;

1. Fully fund council tax support, acknowledging that the scheme to date has taken millions of pounds out of funding for council services, and has increased the cost of living for some of the poorest.
2. Analyse the combined impact of all welfare reforms, including council tax support, at a local level, publish the results of this work, and take this impact into account in any future welfare reforms, and future local government funding settlements.

Trying to extract any tax from £72.40 adult unemployment benefit was doomed to failure from the start so; it results in a cut in local authority funding because it cannot be collected. All unemployed adults receive £72.40 or less while Children’s and disability benefits are added; when a disabled person fails the Work Capability Assessment their income is reduced to £72.40; there are 4.1 million benefit claimants affected (3). Since April 2013 many benefit claimants have had to pay rent and council tax out of that £72.40; (3)

— To Lord Heseltine who said Archbishops “Factually wrong” and “out of touch” about poverty and inequality in the UK

More London councils consulting on kicking the fiscal boot in on the poorest

Swheatie is reminded in Government claims that they will protect the poorest people, of the phrase "sadism masquerading as compassion." And central Government's drive toward 'localism' is just another means of passing the blame on when it reduces overall support from central government funds to local government.

By Zacchaeus 2000 — Justice for vulnerable debtors

Waltham Forest and Barnet consult on increasing Council Tax for poor residents

Waltham Forest and Barnet have joined Harrow in launching consultations on proposals to cut the level of Council Tax Support (CTS) available to their low income residents.

Barnet’s consultation proposes increasing their 8.5% minimum payment to either 15% or 20%. This could lead to a lone parent with two children in the borough facing a council tax bill of £210, more than double what they are currently expected to pay. Unlike other councils however Barnet does at least present maintaining the current level of support as an option and we hope that is what the majority of respondents will argue for. Continue reading  on z2k website→

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A NEW POLL TAX?

Read Z2K's joint report with CPAG on the impact of the abolition of council tax benefit in London here.

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‘Forced Out’ documentary

'Forced Out' is a short documentary, produced by Z2K that looks at what it means to be poor in London and how Welfare Reform is changing our city. Please watch and share