Council tax re-evaluation is pointless and expensive (Cambridge Liberal Democrats)

Cambridge Liberal Democrats <camlibdems@gmail.com>

Council tax re-evaluation is pointless and expensive

November 10, 2005 11:54 AM

David Howarth, MP for Cambridge, has called in Parliament for the government to replace the unfair Council Tax with a Local Income Tax based on ability to pay rather than property value.

David was speaking during the Second Reading of the Council Tax (New Valuation Lists for England) Bill in the House of Commons. The bill will remove the requirement for re-evaluation of Council Tax bands on predetermined fixed dates. Although David voted in favour of the bill, he stated,

"By simply canceling this round of re-evaluation, the bill allows the Government off a hook of its own creation. But it does not make the council tax itself any more fair or any more acceptable.

"I have talked to people in Cambridge who are paying more than 10% of their income in Council Tax. This cannot be allowed to continue."

Commenting on the Council Tax in Cambridge, David said:

"This year the average Council Tax bill in Cambridge was £1006, which is just too much for many pensioners. Nationally a Local Income Tax would save 8 out of 10 pensioners money.

"We need a Local Income Tax because it is fair. It would save the average family around £450 pounds every year, and people on low incomes would save even more."