Councillors reluctantly agree to take forward plans to scrap 100% Council Tax discount for unemployed (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Bradford Council leader vows to give any ‘workable alternatives’ to plans to reduce the maximum council tax benefit for working age adults full consideration
7:00am Wednesday 19th September 2012 in News
By Jo Winrow, City Hall Reporter
Proposals to reduce the maximum council tax benefit for working age adults are to go out to consultation, after senior Bradford councillors reluctantly agreed to take the draft scheme to the next stage.
The move to scrap a discount of up to 100 per cent given to 34,000 in the district has come amid cuts of ten per cent to the amount the authority receives from the Government in council tax support, amounting to £4.3 million.
Pensioners would be protected from the cuts, but others, such as the unemployed, disabled, and families on low incomes, face having to pay up to 25 per cent more.
A total of 27,000 people, who receive a full discount, would be sent a bill with an amount to pay for the first time. The average weekly amount extra to pay is expected to be £3.75, although changes would continue to be means tested.
Bradford Council leader, Councillor David Green , told the decision-making executive, this was an “invidious and despicable piece of legislation” with central Government forcing through cuts but not having the courage to actually do so, while passing it on to local authorities to implement.
He said: “I would urge all the councillors in Bradford to use any influence they have to lobby the Government and ministers over this legislation. There is still a chance they could rescue the hundreds of thousands of people across West Yorkshire who will be affected by these changes.”
Of the consultation, he added: “I will give an assurance that we will listen to people’s views and if people can come up with workable alternatives or amendments, we will listen and try to build that in. But I do stress it has to be seen against the backdrop of the Coalition’s cuts.”
Of suggestions that Government changes allowing the Council to raise more from collecting council tax on empty and second homes would cover the benefit reduction, he added that the figures did not match up.
The ruling Labour group has drawn up the proposals in an effort to make the scheme as fair and equitable as possible for all working age claimants. The Council must adopt a scheme by the end of January 2013, with a view to it being operational by April 1.
There are fears it will lead to an increase in the level of “child and adult poverty, debt and homelessness”.
Comments(30)
thoughtout
says...
10:46am Wed 19 Sep 12
Rambo
says...
11:06am Wed 19 Sep 12
Of course, not everyone on benefits is like that, or a Frank Gallagher-type dosser. But if she can afford all that she can bl00dy well pay some council tax.
Avro
says...
11:27am Wed 19 Sep 12
But it also has a down side to it, because there will be those who genuinly cannot afford to contribute.
angry bradfordian
says...
11:39am Wed 19 Sep 12
£3.75?? I assumed it was going to be hundreds of pounds a year the way Green is talking. It's the cost of a magazine, a sandwich or a short taxi ride we're talking about!
pellethead
says...
11:42am Wed 19 Sep 12
Joedavid
says...
11:42am Wed 19 Sep 12
Whats this about we arw seniors and Council charging me the full amount.
justjustice
says...
11:48am Wed 19 Sep 12
Avro
says...
12:10pm Wed 19 Sep 12
The already overloaded workload of Citzens Advice suddenly got bigger!
vax2002
says...
12:13pm Wed 19 Sep 12
Many people have to take ANY job, many jobs are often low hours poor pay.
They often get people on the ladder to better jobs.
Stopping council tax benefit for low paid workers will kick that ladder out.
People won't starve, they will just remain on the dole where 100% benefit is paid, refuse low paid jobs that make them worse off.
This is a stupid decision taken by stupid people.
Those on disability benefits can be as much as £200 a week better off than those working, yet they will receive full benefit .
The only fair solution is to means test blindly, household income/number of people regardless of circumstances.
those with most pay most.
But kick out the ladder in to work and the council better have very deep pockets because the overall bill will rocket as less choose work.
But they wont have thought that far ahead...
thatsnotmyname
says...
12:35pm Wed 19 Sep 12
angry bradfordian wrote:It is hundreds...well two. 3.75 x 52 = 195
"The average weekly amount extra to pay is expected to be £3.75"
£3.75?? I assumed it was going to be hundreds of pounds a year the way Green is talking. It's the cost of a magazine, a sandwich or a short taxi ride we're talking about!
ANY WHERE BUT HERE
says...
12:40pm Wed 19 Sep 12
angry bradfordian
says...
12:45pm Wed 19 Sep 12
thatsnotmyname wrote:I know it's a weekly figure. The clue was in the first line.
angry bradfordian wrote:It is hundreds...well two. 3.75 x 52 = 195
"The average weekly amount extra to pay is expected to be £3.75"
£3.75?? I assumed it was going to be hundreds of pounds a year the way Green is talking. It's the cost of a magazine, a sandwich or a short taxi ride we're talking about!
My point is that Mr Green is suggesting there's going to be an increase in “child and adult poverty, debt and homelessness”. I can't see how £3.75 a week is going to be the cause of this by itself.
The Hump
says...
1:03pm Wed 19 Sep 12
bmt1980
says...
1:11pm Wed 19 Sep 12
Would save plenty of money if the wasters of this city had cuts to their benefits. I am sick of seeing people on benefits in the pub or out shopping because they have more disposable income than me and my wife who work 40 hour plus weeks! Time for a reality check and for these people to get off their backsides and actually contribute something! Manufacturing in the UK is on its @r$e because nobody has the right attitude anymore. People are raised in a benefits culture and they will feed that on to their children and so on!
WHY ARE THE COUNCIL FIGHTING FOR THIS??? Fight for the people who deserve the benefits and not for the scuzzers of society!!!
Want to get back in come election time??? TAKE A STAND NOW!!
pellethead
says...
1:15pm Wed 19 Sep 12
bmt1980 wrote:how much do you think people on benefits are on? And I think it only fair to quote real figures. Not Daily Mail fantasies?
How about scrapping it for all the scuzzers who have never worked a day in their life and probably never will, but keep it in place for people who literally cannot work - i.e. the disabled. And I am talking the "real" disabled community, not the "Ooo my back" or "I'm tired all the time" fakers.
Would save plenty of money if the wasters of this city had cuts to their benefits. I am sick of seeing people on benefits in the pub or out shopping because they have more disposable income than me and my wife who work 40 hour plus weeks! Time for a reality check and for these people to get off their backsides and actually contribute something! Manufacturing in the UK is on its @r$e because nobody has the right attitude anymore. People are raised in a benefits culture and they will feed that on to their children and so on!
WHY ARE THE COUNCIL FIGHTING FOR THIS??? Fight for the people who deserve the benefits and not for the scuzzers of society!!!
Want to get back in come election time??? TAKE A STAND NOW!!
vax2002
says...
1:17pm Wed 19 Sep 12
ANY WHERE BUT HERE wrote:its £18,500 I believe and thats not expenses they can claim that separately.
Councillors, on tax payers money get over £13,000 in expenses alone the second highest amount in the country. Some people don't earn that in a year. We have a city that has been in decline for longer than fifteen years yet no'one takes responsibility, now they head for the destitute to collect more money. Good luck with that ( I Hope the town hall is insured)
Group leaders get an additional £40,000 a year plus the £18,500.
Just about every councillor is on some group or another.
So all in they net around £800 a week.
Plus they qualify for an accelerated super-an pension scheme which can pay up to £600 a week in pension's payable at 50.
This is why they attack anyone suggesting that you stand as an independent, you dont think they do it to se4rve the community do you ? they do it to get rich
Mumby was the best
says...
1:41pm Wed 19 Sep 12
justjustice wrote:And claim full benefits somewhere else ?
More reason to move out of Bradford I guess.
Storck
says...
1:56pm Wed 19 Sep 12
I have never missed a council tax payment in my life but this year I forgot to set up the direct debit in time. Within 2 weeks I had a letter saying if I did not pay the whole year in full I would have to attend court 2 weeks after. Maybe they chased me quickly as I had a good payment history in the past but it was very heavy handed, a simple reminder letter would have done the job.
Mr Ordinary Man
says...
2:15pm Wed 19 Sep 12
BD16
says...
3:07pm Wed 19 Sep 12
This has as much to do with political posturing as it does with a financial shortfall and does nobody any favours. Collect all the money due first and then see what extra needs to be raised from other sources.
angry bradfordian
says...
3:43pm Wed 19 Sep 12
BD16 wrote:The council are currently consulting on the following changes:
What if David Green was to collect the council tax on second, and empty homes, and then see how much money was to be found?
This has as much to do with political posturing as it does with a financial shortfall and does nobody any favours. Collect all the money due first and then see what extra needs to be raised from other sources.
-ending the Council Tax exemption for properties that are empty for less than six months. This means that people who own empty homes will have to pay full Council Tax from the time that they become empty
-ending the Council Tax exemption on empty properties that are undergoing major structural repair. This means that people who own empty properties that are undergoing structural repairs will have to pay full Council Tax
-ending the 10% discount on holiday homes/second homes
-introduce an additional 50% Council Tax charge for properties that have been empty for over two years. This means that owners of all properties that have been empty for over two years will have to pay 150% Council Tax for their property
These will cost a **** sight more than £3.75 to the people it affects, but it doesn't suit Green's politics to speak up for these people. It seems a bit unfair to me, as it's not like these people are using twice as many council services.
The Man With No Name
says...
3:52pm Wed 19 Sep 12
The Man With No Name
says...
3:54pm Wed 19 Sep 12
Avro wrote:No one will pay, and they won't be able to collect any of it. It is unworkable.
Boy is this a wake up call that has been a long time in coming!
But it also has a down side to it, because there will be those who genuinly cannot afford to contribute.
The Man With No Name
says...
3:56pm Wed 19 Sep 12
thoughtout wrote:Yes, the Council will get a big shock when no one pays...
going to be a big shock for some people ...
BD16
says...
5:02pm Wed 19 Sep 12
angry bradfordian wrote:The article only mentions empty and second homes, which he seems to have dismissed out of hand.
BD16 wrote:The council are currently consulting on the following changes:
What if David Green was to collect the council tax on second, and empty homes, and then see how much money was to be found?
This has as much to do with political posturing as it does with a financial shortfall and does nobody any favours. Collect all the money due first and then see what extra needs to be raised from other sources.
-ending the Council Tax exemption for properties that are empty for less than six months. This means that people who own empty homes will have to pay full Council Tax from the time that they become empty
-ending the Council Tax exemption on empty properties that are undergoing major structural repair. This means that people who own empty properties that are undergoing structural repairs will have to pay full Council Tax
-ending the 10% discount on holiday homes/second homes
-introduce an additional 50% Council Tax charge for properties that have been empty for over two years. This means that owners of all properties that have been empty for over two years will have to pay 150% Council Tax for their property
These will cost a **** sight more than £3.75 to the people it affects, but it doesn't suit Green's politics to speak up for these people. It seems a bit unfair to me, as it's not like these people are using twice as many council services.
Given that we have a housing shortage wouldn't it be be better to tax these first? Some of them might suddenly come onto the market and help ease our shortage.
BD16
says...
5:05pm Wed 19 Sep 12
The Man With No Name wrote:You might be the man with no name now but haven't you had plenty of others before? A "reasonable sort of chap" being the last one.
thoughtout wrote:Yes, the Council will get a big shock when no one pays...
going to be a big shock for some people ...
collos25
says...
5:42pm Wed 19 Sep 12
alfucham
says...
9:43pm Wed 19 Sep 12
1.Heat and Light a home which now averages most people at £40 weekly
2 Feed themselves properly at minimun £30.
That leaves a pound.
Dream on government you have clearly lost the plot.
Shifting out many of the economically inactive that have landed in this city in the last ten years (50000 increase recently reported in this rag)may be a start on the money benefit drain.
Sorry but the countries finished morally bankrupt as well as financially.
I"m going to emigrate to beg in Outer Mongolia wintering in Tenerife.
Cos thats all that seems to go on in my parents once proud neighbourhood.
Let them eat cake echos familiarity
Commonsensefirst
says...
12:50am Thu 20 Sep 12
Duke of Odsal says...
10:39am Wed 19 Sep 12