Ideally everyone should pay into the taxation pot. If one pays tax and council tax it is undermines any argument about opting out, scrounging and the like. Of course society – a real society worthy of that name – offsets those contributions so that the poorest don’t have to starve or risk gaol in order to belong.
This additional tax on poverty must be addressed at national level, that is the proper job of Parliament.
As at previous consultation meetings there was enormous anger at the proposal to make people on income support and Job Seekers Allowance pay an average of £5 a week council tax. It was pointed out that with cuts in other benefits such as housing benefit, and general reductions in benefits as part of the Universal Credit, these people were absolutely unable to pay more without facing starvation.
Many people contended that with the costs of debt collection, and the increase in crime, family breakdown, and homelessness the policy would cost more than the money raised. A recent survey showed that councils expect 50% of people will refuse to pay the new charge. Other councils such as Walsall, Dudley and Solihull have decided to absorb the…
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