News story

7th January 2004

Local People get Vote over Future of Council Tax

Northavon MP Steve Webb has launched a major consultation with local residents over whether the council tax should be scrapped and replaced with a local tax related to ability to pay. The MP has already sent out over 2,500 e-mails to constituents asking for their views but is also seeking opinions by text message and by more traditional means.

Steve Webb has launched the consultation in response to growing concerns about the ability of people on modest or fixed incomes to pay council tax bills which have been rising faster than the increase in prices. Whilst many people are unhappy with the growing burden of council tax bills, the MP is seeking views on whether a local income tax, of the sort used in parts of the USA and elsewhere in Europe would be a good idea for Britain.

Local people are being asked to vote "yes or no" to a proposal to replace council tax with a local income tax as the way in which local councils top up the money that they receive from central government. They can do this by e-mailing the MP at stevewebb@cix.co.uk, sending a text message to his new text number 07966 802795, or by writing to the MP at his constituency office at Poole Court, Yate, and over 800 local people have already cast their vote.

Steve Webb said: "Across Britain, average council tax levels have gone up each year by more than the rate of inflation for many years now. I want to know whether local people think it is time that the council tax was scrapped and replaced with a local income tax instead. When I have heard from large numbers of local people, I will publish the results of the vote and will then reflect their views by campaigning in Parliament".

Click here to read some of the arguments in favour of a local income tax

Click here to read some of the arguments in favour of the council tax