Council tax increase – and I voted for it!

February 4, 2010

Well, what did happen on the council tax increase debate? The answer is that it is going to be an increase of 4.25% and what is surprising is that I voted for it!

One of my reasons for standing for election to the County Council two years ago was due to my frustrations in council and business tax going up each year, but the services we receive going down.

Last year, I voted against the 2.99% council tax increase, and supported the Conservatives proposals for just a 2% increase.

Taking into account that inflation is very low at present, the proposed increase of 4.25% seemed high in real terms. Under normal circumstances, I could never support such a high council tax increase, but at last weeks meeting I did support and vote for the 4.25%. I supported this with difficulty as I do find it hard to justify when people have either lost their jobs or are seeing a small increase in there wage packets.

When the 4.25% proposal was first brought forward a few weeks earlier at the council’s board, I didn’t support the increase.

This year’s council budget does seem to be designed to boost reserves, as the belt tightens on Council spending. To maintain much needed investment in our schools is my main reason for supporting this year’s increase.

Let’s not forget that following the forthcoming general election spending cuts will be inevitable whoever wins, and saving our secondary schools and other services, where we can, appears to me to be a valid cause.

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Posted by russellgeorge

Dark days: streetlighting update

September 28, 2008

The council has already started the big ‘switch off’ across the county, where in most areas, two out of three streetlights are being switched off.

This has all come about as a result of a massive increase in the cost of energy, as the council attempts to manage its budget. The policy will also cut the council’s carbon footprint by over 1,000 tonnes a year, although let’s make no mistake, this is a cost-saving exercise.

The expected date for the Newtown switch off to commence is October 29th, one of the last areas across the county.

I am against turning off streetlights in areas where there are known problems. It also frustrates me to think of streetlights being purchased and installed, then not being used.

However, I also believe that across the country there are areas with more streetlighting than is always necessary.

According to the original plan, some streetlights will not be turned off. These include those in sensitive areas covered by CCTV, pedestrian crossings, areas near hospitals, sheltered housing and where there are known problems.

On this basis I am supportive of the decision as I fear the alternative would have been to pass the increased cost onto the council tax payer which I could not support.

Last month, the electricity contract for my business came to an end. The increase in cost in my new contract was huge; I had not anticipated the extra charges or budgeted for them at the beginning of the year.

I do believe that it is wrong that some are choosing to scaremonger about the crime and safety issues. My other concern is regarding the identification of areas where there are known problems.

In my ward there are a number of known crime hot spots. I met with the neighbourhood police unit on Friday and although they were able to indicate areas of known crime to me, the information they could offer me was limited.

I now intend to talk to the council’s safety officer to find out exactly how, as a council, we are identifying the ‘known problems’ areas across the county.

The streetlights policy is a correct one, as long as it carried out sensitively and according to the original agreement.

1 Comment | council tax, councillors, environment, issues, newtown, street lighting, taxes | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Newtown taxes to increase for low paid workers

April 21, 2008

I can’t understand how anyone can say that removing the 10p tax band will help anyone. Newtown is one of the lowest paid areas in the UK and those on lowest pay will certainly find themselves paying much more tax.

This is just another way through the back door of taking more money from the average hard working person. When Gordon Brown announced the reduction in the basic rate from 22% to 20% and then abolished the 10p tax band, it was obvious to that everyone would be worse off. But what’s frustrating is that on announcing this he presented it as good for the average hard-working person!

So many people I have spoken to this week have aired there dissatisfaction of Labour, and I’m finding great support with people telling me there going to vote Conservative for the first time.

Council tax is of course another hot issue. The Lib Dems in Powys want to scrap council tax and replace it with a tax-per-person system. If this comes about I fear that the average paid workers in Powys will be paying even more.

The Conservatives pledge to introduce a system that places the control of council tax into our hands. My party will call for a referendum if our council wants to put up council tax by any significant amount. This will effectively make our council have to put forward a strong case to justify any large increase if they want us, the people of Powys, to vote for it.

It’s a disgrace that people who earn next to nothing are going to subsidise the 2p tax cut for people who earn more than they do. We are paying too much tax for too little in return and from the conversations I’ve had with people in Newtown this week I believe the public are finally realising it.

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Posted by russellgeorge

Welsh councillors ‘not getting younger’

April 9, 2008

I read with interest an article on the BBC website today about how research from BBC Wales shows that Welsh councillors are not getting any younger.

A few years ago the Welsh Assembly had a scheme to “pay off” long-standing councillors, in an initiative to get younger men and women into our local councils.

I’m 34 in a few week (27 April if anyone wants to send me birthday wishes!) and if I am elected I will be among the 3.3% who are under 35! The average age of councillors is still 61 in 10 local authorities surveyed some years ago.

I am absolutely in favour of encouraging younger people to get involved in local politics and public services. It does however frustrate me that £1.6 m of the taxpayers’ money (our money) was spent on a scheme that gave councillors a cash incentive if they stood down.

What makes it all the more frustrating is the BBC Wales survey that found four years on, the average age of councillors in those 10 areas remains 61.

I think I should point out that I’m not having dig at old counsellors. For every old and ineffective councillor there is another one thats bring great experience and wisdom. We need a mix of older and younger councillors – after all councillors should be a true reflection of the area they represent.

Encouragingly, the survey found that Powys had the most noticeable drop in the average age of councillors. If I’m elected on May 1st, the Powys figures will look even better!

3 Comments | councillors, elections, powys county council, taxes, welsh assembly | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge