Call to Abolish Council Tax

10.24.54am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 16th Sep 2003

Chris Maines says; "Council Tax is an unfair tax and should be replaced with a system that reflects a person's ability to pay."

Cllr Chris Maines and the Liberal Democrat's call for the abolition of Council Tax, has come at the same time as a warning that Bromley's Council Tax might rise to a staggering £2,594 next year.

Speaking at Monday evening's meeting of Bromley Council, Cllr Chris Maines said, "The prediction of another massive increase is bad news for many Bromley residents, particularly those who live on fixed incomes."

"Council Tax is an unfair tax and should be replaced with a system that reflects a person's ability to pay." Cllr Maines added.

Councillor Maines was urging Bromley Council to respond to a Government consultation paper into the future of Local Government funding. The meeting coincided with reports that the Government is about to change the formula used to calculate tax levels. The Evening Standard has suggested that next year the Council Tax would rise by another 10%, taking a band H property in Bromley to £2,594.00. per year. This follows a similar hike earlier this year.

"Successive Conservative and Labour Governments have forced up Council Tax," says Cllr Maines, "it is a highly regressive tax hitting those least able to afford it the most."

Further disaster looms according to Cllr Maines with the Government's proposed revaluation of Council Tax banding. It is thought the steep increases in house prices seen locally will see Council Tax levels soar even further.

"Residents have had no control over the increase in the value of their homes and incomes have not necessarily increased at the same rate. If Bromley properties are re-valued many people will find their Council Tax a crippling burden." claimed Cllr Maines.

The substantial increases have already prompted pensioners to march on Parliament. Last week the Devon and Cornwall police authority warned the Government of widespread civil unrest if Council Tax continued to rise at the predicted rates.

"We need a fairer system," warned Cllr Maines, who supports a local income tax which he believes will reflect a person's ability to pay.