12,000 more face demand to pay Derby's council tax
MORE than 12,000 people in Derby will have to pay towards their council tax for the first time from April 1.
The city council says everyone in the city – apart from pensioners and war widows – will now have to pay up to a fifth of their council tax, even those who did not have to pay anything before.
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The poorest will have to make a contribution for the first time
It says the less-well-off must contribute towards council tax for the first time to help plug a gap caused by cuts to funding from Government.
Cabinet member for finance Sarah Russell accepted the move would "hit the city's poorest in the pocket".
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She said the authority would be understanding to those who could not pay and that a hardship fund would be set up to help.
But she added bailiffs would be sent to recover cash from "those who won't pay".
In total, there are more than 30,000 households in Derbyshire that receive council tax benefit.
In Derby there are about 15,000, of whom 12,200 currently do not pay council tax at all, for reasons such as being in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance or Income Support. Some receiving Disability Living Allowance will also have to start paying up to 20% but pensioners and war widows will be exempt.
Councils get money from the Government to cover the shortfall for people excused from council tax because they are on low incomes or benefits but this amount has been cut by 10% as part of ministers' plans to reduce national debt.
City officials fear as a result they could be left with a £2.6 million "black hole".
Miss Russell said: "If we were to plug the gap ourselves, it would have an impact on frontline services so we can't afford to."
She said that a £200,000 "financial hardship fund" would be set up to help those struggling to pay.
Miss Russell said: "We will clearly differentiate between people that can't pay and people who won't. For those that can't, we will offer all the support we can, such as budgeting help and flexible payments.
"We will send bailiffs for people who won't pay but that is the absolute last resort."
Under Government rules, the city can only increase council tax for householders currently paying their full amount by a maximum of 2% without triggering a referendum.
Miss Russell said Leicester City Council is set to start the same system from the same date and Nottingham City Council will launch it in the next financial year.
Elsewhere in the county, the 1,600 people who previously paid no council tax to Tory-led South Derbyshire District Council will have to pay 10% from April 1. The area's Tory MP, Heather Wheeler, said: "Spending by local authorities has increased by 50% over 10 years. We can't afford the deficit and everybody has to play their part."
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by Digitina
Thursday, January 24 2013, 1:57PM
“Foodbank information - which many of us part-time workers will now be needing help from - is on the same page which may one day feature info on the hardship fund...
http://tinyurl.com/bbvwmjd
and tomorrow, Sainsburys offer free food, on their website.
http://tinyurl.com/aazmuyg”
by Neo_MadBadger
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 10:59PM
“"And why not take money out of the mouths of cancer victims"
John/ Snow man.
Well now, it's quite obvious that someone who names himself Snow man knows next to nothing about this issue.”
by Neo_MadBadger
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 10:58PM
“"And why not take money out of the mouths of cancer victims"
John/ Snow man.
Well now, it's quite obvious that someone who names himself Snow man knows next to nothing about this issue.”
by Neo_MadBadger
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 10:57PM
“"And why not take money out of the mouths of cancer victims"
John/ Snow man.
Well now, it's quite obvious that someone who names himself Snow man knows next to nothing about this issue.”
by thederbypar
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 8:06PM
“It ok sending the bailiffs round but how can you take from people who have nothing ! Or are you going to throw them on the streets where is this going to end . We should be asking why the council has been borrowing so much money over the years and where has it goes we are still paying for the council house for the next 200 years we are going to be paying for a velodrome we are also paying for money being wasted on outside contractors who have left shoddy work behind them
, we are suffering from cut backs at the wrong end no building inspectors no highways inspectors no noise nuisance inspectors and many other cuts,that has lead to shoddy works and high bills from the private sector so who's at fault for all this I will let you decide
.”
by Snow_Man
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 5:45PM
“by stolen_ID
as you suggested someone should do, take the council to court?
Will you do that for us John?"
On what basis? I have never taken a penny in benefits in my life, although I've sure as hell paid a lot of tax to support others.
However, as I do have contacts with a national group which campaigns for the disabled I WILL see what action they can take at a national level regarding nasty l;ittle insignificant left wing councils like Derbys.”
by Snow_Man
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 5:42PM
“by coralsea
"Yippee yes at last!!!! now lets target the little girlies who like to have kids by the dozen to get homes and other little perks, BRING IT ON"
And why not take money out of the mouths of Multiple Sclerosis sufferers already confined to wheelchairs, of cancer victims, and heart patients, already struggling to exist on a laughable pittance of benefits.
Its time a distinct line was drawn between the deserving and those who dont deserve like the bad back brigade and the rest of the scroungers.”
by coralsea
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 5:08PM
“Yippee yes at last!!!! now lets target the little girlies who like to have kids by the dozen to get homes and other little perks, BRING IT ON”
by Rob09
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 5:01PM
“@Sadie. Fair point about the Chief Exec, but the Council are at the point where they have to balance the books somehow. Over 1,000 posts have now been removed in the last three years, and if you examine the cuts proposed for the next two years (around £40m) then there will probably be around another 700 to go, meaning further cuts in services. This still doesn't balance the books, so, given the limitation on raising Council Tax, they've got to find another way...”
by stolen_ID
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 5:01PM
“Snow_man writes -
"It is a dispicable act by a dispicable left wing council who, in usual labour fashionh, are prepared to make life miserable just to make their childish political point."
and
"WASTING money on velodromes, council houses, and God knows what other schemes. I hope someone challenges this in the courts and gives the council the blooody nose it so richly deserves"
I ask Snow_man, which party was in power when the derision to refurbish the council house, and build the multi-sports arena was made, and passed?
Answer - not labour
So who is making political points?
All the parties are as bad as each other, this isn't about making points”