tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27262226.post6934318015403681576..comments2023-10-18T03:11:46.277-07:00Comments on ABERCONWY: Plaid spin will disappoint pensionersProfessor Dylan Jones-Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325540579875328746noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27262226.post-71895457112681842652007-03-25T10:38:00.000-07:002007-03-25T10:38:00.000-07:00PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ISITFAIR COUNCIL TAX P...PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ISITFAIR COUNCIL TAX PROTEST GROUP<BR/><BR/>For further press information, please contact: Christine Melsom on 01428-712680 or E-mail c@isitfair.co.uk<BR/><BR/>22 March 2007<BR/><BR/>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<BR/><BR/>[start of press release]<BR/><BR/>ISITFAIR CAMPAIGN'S REACTION TO LYONS INQUIRY REPORT<BR/><BR/>Christine Melsom, founder of the Isitfair Council Tax protest group, issued the following statement following yesterday's publication of the final report of the Lyons Inquiry into Local Government.<BR/><BR/>"We've waited 3 years for their recommendations and we can find very few crumbs of comfort for supporters of Isitfair. We will continue to campaign for a fairer system of taxation for local services.<BR/><BR/>The recommendations, if ever implemented, may help some of those who currently struggle to meet their bills but they fail to address the root causes of the growing opposition to Council Tax and are no more than a patching up exercise. <BR/><BR/>The Lyons Inquiry acknowledges the unfairness of Council Tax but was unwilling to bite the bullet and propose any radical change for the foreseeable future.<BR/><BR/>Their proposals for additional bands are merely tinkering with the present system. People living in large houses are not necessarily rich and people living in low banded houses are not necessarily poor. The inherent unfairness of the present system cannot be addressed by a few changes to property bands.<BR/><BR/>We strongly oppose the proposed removal of capping on Council Tax increases as long as the present system remains. This would inevitably be the green light for councils to impose further massive hikes in Council Tax.<BR/><BR/>We then have the prospect of additional charges for waste collection and also a proposed tourist tax. We believe the cost of collecting and administering such taxes would be disproportionate to the amount of additional tax being raised.<BR/><BR/>We welcome the proposal to increase the savings limit for Council Tax Benefit eligibility as a short term measure. However if the tax was related to income and/or spending the complete Council Tax Benefits system would be irrelevant as would the need for regular property revaluations.<BR/><BR/>Isitfair is sometimes wrongly portrayed as a campaign only for pensioners - we do not support an entitlement to a reduction in Council Tax based solely on age. There are many non-pensioners struggling to pay this tax, and there are also some pensioners for whom Council Tax is a trivial expense. Isitfair represents people of all age groups who are being unfairly affected by Council Tax and we want a fairer system for everyone.<BR/><BR/>We have published our own "Alternative Lyons Report", an independent study conducted for Isitfair, which can be found at http://www.isitfair.co.uk/MichealBoon/mb_page.asp "<BR/><BR/>[end of press release]<BR/><BR/>For further press information, please contact: Christine Melsom on 01428-712680 or E-mail c@isitfair.co.uk <BR/><BR/>Issued by Isitfair Campaign, Headley, Hampshire GU35 8PJ <BR/><BR/>NOTES TO EDITOR<BR/><BR/>You can find "The Alternative Lyons Report", an independent study conducted for Isitfair, at www.isitfair.co.uk/MichealBoon/mb_page.asp<BR/><BR/>Isitfair is a UK-wide, non party-political campaign for the reform of the existing property-value based system of Council Tax. <BR/><BR/>Isitfair wants a fairer system of taxation for local services that is related to everyone's ability to pay. <BR/><BR/>Isitfair represents people of all age groups (not only pensioners) who are unfairly affected by Council Tax. <BR/><BR/>You can find more information about the Isitfair campaign at www.isitfair.co.uk<BR/> <BR/><BR/>Please sign this petition http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/FAIRCOUNCILTAX/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com