Comments on: Council Tax- we need some relief from these bills http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/03/18/council-tax-we-need-some-relief-from-these-bills/ Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Wokingham Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:57:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Stuart Fairney http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/03/18/council-tax-we-need-some-relief-from-these-bills/#comment-1191 Stuart Fairney Tue, 20 Mar 2007 08:46:50 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=164#comment-1191 Apl, thanks for the history and constitutional information, I didn't know this, but have long been a proponent of renegotiating the terms of our relationship with the EU. Thanks for the link. Apl, thanks for the history and constitutional information, I didn’t know this, but have long been a proponent of renegotiating the terms of our relationship with the EU.

Thanks for the link.

]]> By: apl http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/03/18/council-tax-we-need-some-relief-from-these-bills/#comment-1188 apl Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:44:51 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=164#comment-1188 Stuart Fairney: "It seems to work well as a sales tax for the various states in North America, why not a similar thing here?" Stuart, an extremely sensible idea. But you ought to know, the british sales tax which did exist was abolished by Edward Heath ( allegedly, a Tory ) and replaced by VAT, part of the terms and conditions for joining the EU. VAT is the European Unions own tax and the british government cannot change it without the permission of the EU. So while your idea is an excelent one, it is not in the power of the british government to implement it while we remain in the EU. http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxation/vat/how_vat_works/index_en.htm Stuart Fairney: “It seems to work well as a sales tax for the various states in North America, why not a similar thing here?”

Stuart, an extremely sensible idea. But you ought to know, the british sales tax which did exist was abolished by Edward Heath ( allegedly, a Tory ) and replaced by VAT, part of the terms and conditions for joining the EU. VAT is the European Unions own tax and the british government cannot change it without the permission of the EU. So while your idea is an excelent one, it is not in the power of the british government to implement it while we remain in the EU.

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxation/vat/how_vat_works/index_en.htm

]]> By: Stuart Fairney http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/03/18/council-tax-we-need-some-relief-from-these-bills/#comment-1182 Stuart Fairney Mon, 19 Mar 2007 10:07:15 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=164#comment-1182 Did you see a paper Peter Lilley (I think) wrote a few years ago, (for Adam Smith or the CPS I don't recall which) suggesting that responsibility for VAT rate setting and collection be switched to local authorities and property based taxation be abolished? This would force councils to keep taxes down, whereas there is no mechanism to facilitate this undee council tax. In addition, sales taxes by virtue of their drip, drip, drip nature would be more affordable, and it would make local authorities wholly responsible for their revenue collection. The current pantomime, where local authorities blame central government and vica versa serves no-one and makes no-one accountable. It seems to work well as a sales tax for the various states in North America, why not a similar thing here? Did you see a paper Peter Lilley (I think) wrote a few years ago, (for Adam Smith or the CPS I don’t recall which) suggesting that responsibility for VAT rate setting and collection be switched to local authorities and property based taxation be abolished?

This would force councils to keep taxes down, whereas there is no mechanism to facilitate this undee council tax. In addition, sales taxes by virtue of their drip, drip, drip nature would be more affordable, and it would make local authorities wholly responsible for their revenue collection. The current pantomime, where local authorities blame central government and vica versa serves no-one and makes no-one accountable.

It seems to work well as a sales tax for the various states in North America, why not a similar thing here?

]]> By: Peter Turner http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/03/18/council-tax-we-need-some-relief-from-these-bills/#comment-1166 Peter Turner Sun, 18 Mar 2007 11:42:15 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=164#comment-1166 The problem with Council Tax is not the tax but the people who spend it. We do not need a general evaluation but a fresh look at what Councils have a duty to provide. I would suggest that A Gender Equality Outreach Worker, for example, is not one of them. The problem with Council Tax is not the tax but the people who spend it. We do not need a general evaluation but a fresh look at what Councils have a duty to provide. I would suggest that A Gender Equality Outreach Worker, for example, is not one of them.

]]> By: Brian Tomkinson http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/03/18/council-tax-we-need-some-relief-from-these-bills/#comment-1164 Brian Tomkinson Sun, 18 Mar 2007 11:31:48 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=164#comment-1164 Well said. Is this Conservative policy? Well said. Is this Conservative policy?

]]>