Isitfair
Council Tax Reform
A non party political nationwide campaign
Newsletter 12
In May this Government was returned to Parliament with promises to listen to the people but there
has been little evidence of that as yet.
The leaks oozing about the report expected in December from Sir Michael Lyons give us little
expectation for much of a change in the council tax situation. He says that he was given a remit and
has worked within that remit. Former Birmingham council chief executive Sir Michael Lyons has
been examining four possible options to reform local government funding. The options are:
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a reformed council tax
a local income tax
bringing business rates back under local government control
other local tax options for raising revenue.
Briefings given to the media earlier this month suggested the government was nervous about making
fundamental changes because of fears of a political backlash close to the next general election.
Speaking earlier this month at the Local Government Association annual conference, Sir Michael told
councillors he had agreed to review council funding after receiving assurances that his report would
not be shelved, like so many previous exercises (Layfield). He promised council leaders a "radical" and practical - agenda to address council tax reform, but admitted: "It's up to the government to
decide how much of it can be introduced." We expect all smoke and mirrors, vague promises and
little action - nothing new then.
This year the Councils are already forecasting high single figures or low double percentage rises
(several times the inflation rate) and these on top of re-banding. I notice that the capping figure has
risen by 1 percent this time around. It makes little sense if councils send out their bills for amounts
above this capping rate, only to have to re-bill council taxpayers at vast public expense.
Since I last wrote to you two of our members Sylvia Hardy of the Devon Pensioners Action Forum and
Alfred Ridley of South Northants Action Against Council Tax have received suspended prison
sentences for non payment of part of their council tax. They both paid last years rate plus inflation
(fair I would say as it is the amount their pensions rose by). Sylvia received seven days suspended
for 56 days and Alfred received 28 days suspended for 28 days. Neither has paid nor intend to.
Isitfair does not encourage anyone to withhold payment of council tax but if any of our members
decide to do so, we will support them in their protest as best we can. Alfred has received the date for
his next appearance before the Magistrate:
Wednesday 7th September at Towcester, Northants.
As yet, we have no date for Sylvia in Exeter.
Many will be travelling to support Alfred and Sylvia. We would like to see as many of YOU there as
possible. Please contact Una Ridley on 01327 358664 late Aug./early Sept. for time of Alfred’s
hearing and Albert Venison for details of Sylvia’s case 01297 32747. I look forward to meeting some
of you.
Founder - Christine Melsom, Willow Cottage, Church Lane, Headley, Hampshire, GU35 8PJ
Web site: www.isitfair.co.uk
E mail: c@isitfair.co.uk
Tel: 01428 712 680
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Isitfair
Council Tax Reform
A non party political nationwide campaign
REMEMBER THIS IS YOUR CAMPAIGN, PLEASE SUPPORT IT
This is a copy of the press release sent out after the General Election
ISITFAIR COUNCIL TAX PROTEST GROUP TELLS GOVERNMENT TO START LISTENING
After securing his third general election victory, Tony Blair said "We have got to listen to the people
and respond wisely and sensibly."
Christine Melsom, founder of the Isitfair council tax protest group, had this response to Tony Blair.
"We trust that your approach of listening to the people and responding wisely and sensibly will apply
to the issue of council tax. The Government must now start listening to the millions of people who
have been demanding a fairer deal on council tax."
The Government has already stated that the existing system of council tax will not be scrapped but it
will be reformed.
Christine continued "So far you have turned a deaf ear to any suggestion that council tax should be
scrapped and replaced by a system that takes account of peoples’ ability to pay. We hope you will
now listen to the demands for a fairer system for everyone. You must ensure that people with fixed or
modest incomes cease to have to pay a disproportionate percentage of their income in council tax."
The Government set up the Lyons Inquiry into the reform of local government finance, which is due to
make its recommendations later this year.
Commenting on this Christine said "This is the second review in two years. The main outcome of the
first review was to recommend the setting up of the second review. We expect something more
constructive from the Lyons Inquiry.
"We call upon the Lyons Inquiry to deliver a fairer system without recourse to selective discounts and
yet more means tested benefits. There is already a massive bureaucracy to handle the administration
of council tax and CT benefits in each of 350 different billing authorities across England. Any changes
to the system should ensure that this administrative overhead is reduced."
On the subject of the revaluation of properties in England, Christine said "The revaluation of
properties in England has commenced, and these revised values will be the basis of council tax bills
from 2007. All households have already endured massive increases in the tax since 1997 and the
Government must accept that for many people the level of council tax now exceeds the limits of
reasonableness. They must take steps to ensure that the increases of the past eight years are not
compounded by any changes that take place as a consequence of property revaluation and
rebanding."
In conclusion Christine told the Government to start listening:
"Start listening to people of all age groups who are demanding a fairer system of taxation to fund local
services! Make the system fairer for everyone. Council tax isn't only a problem for pensioners - it is a
disproportionate tax on anyone with a fixed or modest income.
"Start listening to people who now pay far more in council tax than they pay in income tax! Stop using
council tax as a stealth tax.
"Start listening to people who are now paying 20% or more of their fixed or modest incomes in council
tax! People have already suffered relentless hikes in the tax since 1997 totalling, on average, over
75%.
"Start listening to people who have been telling you for the past eight years that the increase in the
value of their property has not generated any additional income with which to pay their council tax bill!
"Council tax is paid out of people's net income. Their income does not go up just because the value of
their property has increased. Are they supposed to remortgage their properties just so that they can
pay their council tax?
Founder - Christine Melsom, Willow Cottage, Church Lane, Headley, Hampshire, GU35 8PJ
Web site: www.isitfair.co.uk
E mail: c@isitfair.co.uk
Tel: 01428 712 680
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Isitfair
Council Tax Reform
A non party political nationwide campaign
"Council tax is a regressive tax - the less income you have, the higher the percentage of your income
you have to pay in council tax. You must ensure that your reforms result in a fairer system for
everyone. Do not deliver a "reformed" system with selective discounts and yet more means testing.
Stop driving more and more people into the council tax benefits system. You promised eight years
ago that you would get rid of means testing during your first term in office. We're still waiting!"
Petitions to Parliament about Council Tax - an Isitfair protest action
Since it was introduced on April Fools day in 1993, Council Tax has risen much faster than the rate of
inflation. For every £100 you paid in 1993, you are now paying well over £200. If the increases had
kept in-line with inflation, for every £100 you paid in 1993 you should now be paying only about £137.
Council Tax is based on the estimated market value of you property and bears no relationship to the
cost of providing local services. If the value of your home increases do local services cost more?
Of course not! If there is a property price crash will local services cost less? Not a chance!
Basing a tax for local services on the estimated value of your home is unfair. Many low earners - and
some pensioners - are now paying over 25% of their income in Council Tax. Many of us are paying
much more Council Tax than Income Tax
Also the Government is currently revaluing all the 22 million homes in England, and Councils will be
forced to use the new valuations to calculate Council Tax bills in 2007. How much was your house
worth when Council Tax was first introduced? How much is your house worth now? And, how much
will your Council Tax bill be in 2007? Well, we don’t know, but all the homes in Wales have already
been re-valued, and four times as many properties (32 per cent) were move up to more expensive
Council Tax bands than were moved down (8 per cent). Isitfair members in Wales have reported
increases in their Council Tax bill of up to 62 per cent.
On page three of a press release dated 16 July 2005 by Halifax plc, they state that if the Welsh
experience is followed in England, 68% of homes will be moved to higher Council Tax bands. Nick
Raynsford MP, the responsible Minister at the time said, in April 2005 (before the General Election)
that the revaluation in England will not be based on the Welsh model
Mr Raynsford lost his job after the election and was replaced by David Miliband.
So - all over the country - members of the nationwide, non-party political Isitfair Council Tax Protest
Group are organising petitions to Parliament, via their MPs. The petitions call for the unfair Council
Tax system (along with the despised, means-tested Council Tax Benefit system) to be scrapped and
replaced by a system that is based on ability to pay from income.
We already have petitions up and running in many MP's constituencies so - if you are asked to sign
the petition in your area - please do so. If you would like to be more involved - and help with the
petition in your area - or organise a petition in your MP's constituency, please contact me and ask for
a petition pack containing all the required information, petition forms, etc. It is not complicated and
need take little of your time. If you have already agreed to write to your MP please do so as soon as
possible, either to his constituency address or to the House of Commons.
Just imagine your MP, with hundreds of others, standing up on the floor of the House of Commons,
waving the Isitfair Petition. MPs of all parties are agreeing to carry out this action. Let’s collect the
scalps of some of the big guns.
Founder - Christine Melsom, Willow Cottage, Church Lane, Headley, Hampshire, GU35 8PJ
Web site: www.isitfair.co.uk
E mail: c@isitfair.co.uk
Tel: 01428 712 680
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Isitfair
Council Tax Reform
A non party political nationwide campaign
A year from now you may wish you had done something today.
Dorset Isitfair Report
The month of July has seen one of our postal members Dennis Bustard appear in court. His
appearance brought about by only paying the percentage increase in his State Pension in Council
Tax and not the inflated figure requested by East Dorset Council during 2004/5. Dennis had a good
afternoon in court, with court cost being waived, and his property banding to be re-assessed. He
would also like to thank all those who sent message’s of support and those supporters who turned up
at court.
On Wednesday 20th July Brian Jaye addressed AJEX (Association of Jewish Ex Servicemen and
Wives) in Bournemouth. Brian and his wife Lily were warmly welcomed by the assembled gathering.
During his address he informed them of the Isitfair campaign our aims and what we had achieved todate, also included Pensions, Council Tax and the relation between them both. He also mentioned his
European trip.
During this month here in Dorset we have written to seven Members of Parliament with copy of the
Isitfair petition. So far we have had a positive response’s from four of these MPs who are prepared to
present our petition: Annette Brooke(LD), Oliver Letwin, Robert Syms and Robert Walter all
Conservatives. Thanks must go to those constituency Isitfair members who sent the letters. So far we
have had one rejection Sir John Butterfill (Cons) but we have since sent him another letter asking him
to change his mind. Week commencing 1st August we hope to start petitioning the general public,
volunteers are wanted in Mid Dorset & Mid Poole, West Dorset, Poole and North Dorset (Contact
Brian Jaye 01258 473899).
Other News
Angus Ogilvy who runs a group in Montgomeryshire is unwell at the moment, and we wish him a
speedy recovery.
Groups are popping up all over Wales. Our Welsh contact is Angela Richards, telephone 01685
889094. Our contact for Scotland is Alistair Murdoch, telephone 01357 520925.
I thank you for the donations and stamps received by Isitfair. As you know we rely on these to keep
the group going. Postage alone for this newsletter is over £200.
Some Isitfair members will speak at meetings about council tax and its vagaries. If you are interested
please let me know. Obviously we need a reasonable amount of notice. I can say that September is
looking fairly full, but if we can do something we will.
Please continue to write to press, MPs and your local councillors. Very soon your councillors will be
sitting down to set next years figures and this Government will be allocating grants. Any rise above
inflation is not acceptable. Be vocal.
If you want some of our ‘business’ cards or stickers: ideas for posters, car stickers, tee shirts, please
let me know. Can anyone supply or know of anyone who can, key fobs cheaply, either printed or
plain?
Founder - Christine Melsom, Willow Cottage, Church Lane, Headley, Hampshire, GU35 8PJ
Web site: www.isitfair.co.uk
E mail: c@isitfair.co.uk
Tel: 01428 712 680
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Isitfair
Council Tax Reform
A non party political nationwide campaign
Yours in the cause,
Christine
Available (details on request):
car stickers, envelope stickers, tee shirts. Isitfair Introductory Booklet
Isitfair receives no funding from any organisation and survives on donations, gifts of
stamps and on stationers’ and printers’ generosity.
Founder - Christine Melsom, Willow Cottage, Church Lane, Headley, Hampshire, GU35 8PJ
Web site: www.isitfair.co.uk
E mail: c@isitfair.co.uk
Tel: 01428 712 680
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