Council Tax Benefits are changing – and it could affect everyone
Purbeck District Council is reminding residents that changes to Council Tax Benefits could affect everyone in the district.
From April 2013, the Government will be ending national Council Tax Benefit and councils will be replacing it with their own local schemes, called Council Tax Support.
Councillor Suttle concluded: “As the changes could have an impact on every council tax payer and service user, not just those who claim Council Tax Benefit, we are urging everyone to have their say.”
The questionnaire and information can be found on the council’s website at www.dorsetforyou.com/counciltaxsupport. Alternatively, telephone 01929 557240 or emailbenefits@westwey.gov.uk to request a questionnaire.
The closing date for the consultation is Monday 5 November 2012.
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16 comments:
Help !! We are drowning in consultations and what is the point of them. 'They' ask us what we want, we tell them, and then they carry on with what they have planned, which seems to be in every case, what we don't want !
Gary can you suggest something that is more democratic than a (done deal) type of consultation ??
Hardly a consultation if, for eg the 25% off for single occupation is not negotiable. How many rich old dears live on their own and could well afford to pay full fee? No encouragement to down size or take a lodger...
Meanwhile, the government wants to build a multi-million pound 'new school' when it already provides education for our kids elsewhere.
I guess if that is what you want, then don't complain if rates go up. You can argue that the funds come from elsewhere; but ultimately we will pay for it.
"I guess if that is what you want, then don't complain if rates go up."
I do wish people who want to comment on public finance would go to the trouble of finding out how it works. How can you expect to be taken seriously if you go on about "rates" when domestic rates ceased to exist over 20 years ago.
'I do wish people who want to comment on public finance would go to the trouble of finding out how it works. How can you expect to be taken seriously if you go on about "rates" when domestic rates ceased to exist over 20 years ago.'
Twenty years ago is smack up to date for most in Swanage......
Further to above 'rich old dears'. What about premium tax for the London wealthy second home owners who induce a high unit cost for utilities and only come down for the 'Free' Weekends, fireworks and Red Arrows.
RobO
One could countenance such a luxury tax, but upon two conditions:
-that the quaint hamlet known as Swanage import a decent purveyor of food. Since Fortnum's and Harrods do not 'do' chain ferries as part of their supply chain, methinks a humble Waitrose and a Marks and Sparks Food Shoppe would suffice.
-that the local rustics kindly refrain from being seen when we are in residence.
Ta Ta! Must dash! Off to Coutts to negotiate a plum loan for a quaint 'cottahge' in Swanage.
It will be wonderful to see money spent on a school in Swanage. For many years now we have all been paying for the £75 million QE school in Wimborne - from Council Tax. And almost all the Building Schools for the Future money Labour borrowed went to schools in Kent
Are you saying schools in Dorset are built with council tax revenue raised in the county but ones in Kent are funded by central government? Are you sure of this? It sounds preposterous.
Money IS being spent on schools in Swanage - the new two tier system means that building have to be closed, opened, built and refurbished.
Only the proposed free school is not, as yet, funded.
We should be more like the French..
BBC NEWS 2nd Oct 2012
"Second home owners in France face tax hike
• French to tax second-home owners
• France unveils 7bn-euro tax rise
• France to tackle 'crushing debt'
About 200,000 Britons with homes in France will now face a new "social contribution", which is to be levied on all foreign owners of French property.
This contribution, similar in nature to the National Insurance contribution in the UK, is set at 15.5%.
When added to the income tax already charged, Britons will be forced to cough up 35.5% on rental income from unfurnished lettings.
Changes to capital gains tax will also be rising from 19% to 34.5%, meaning that Britons who sell their second homes for a gain will now take home a substantially smaller profit."
RobO
I think all these posts are missing the point - the consultation is about means-tested benefit not about hiking up the council tax for second home owners. I realise this might be letting facts get in the way of a second home owner rant (although it's ok if you are wealthy but don't come from London)
It's interesting that second home owners who only spend a few weeks here are being asked to pay more, but single occupiers (read Tory voters) have their 25% discount set in stone.
What makes you think single home owners will be Tory voters? I know many people who live alone but doubt if they are all Tories.
You have to be pretty rich to live alone in Swanage
There are ten properties in our cul de sac, 50% are holiday homes, but in the next row, 'front line' 75% are second homes. The utility companies have to provide services as if ALL were utilized full time, because they're not the 'residents' have to pay an increased cost per unit!
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