A second question was added to the consultation on 20 December 2017. The Government has now said that councils can increase general council tax next year by an additional 1% without the need for a referendum. Although this is not our proposal we could now increase council tax by 5.99% in 2018/19. If you have any comments about whether or not the council should increase council tax by 5.99% please write these in below. Overall theme Issues raised Number of Quotes times mentioned Comments relating to Comments relating to increasing council 77 have my bills to pay how “The government don’t increasing council tax by tax by 5.99% showed no significant can you justify this amount of a rise I can not 5.99% in 2018/19 differences to the comments we afford to have my heating on now.” received relating to increasing council tax by 4.9%. under) is a huge increase for much “6% (or just less services. If you were increasing services it may be worth looking at but some of us have There was a great deal of fixed incomes and some of us have none at all concern about the affordability of and live off our the proposal, even amongst savings.” those that felt increasing council and pension increases at 3% this tax by another 1% was “With inflation would not be reasonable (18 mentions). justified.” increase in council tax, my income hasn't Some respondents were worried “No changed yet all my about being able to afford an outgoings have.” above inflationary increase in I am happy to pay this to protect essential council tax during a period when “Again, front line services such as social care. This will they felt not people’s incomes are have a financial impact for on my family but increasing (14 mentions). it’s worth it for the common good.”
A second question was added to the consultation on 20 December 2017. The Government has now said that councils can increase general council tax next year by an additional 1% without the need for a referendum. Although this is not our proposal we could now increase council tax by 5.99% in 2018/19. If you have any comments about whether or not the council should increase council tax by 5.99% please write these in below. Overall theme Issues raised Number of times mentioned Quotes Comments relating to increasing council tax by 5.99% in 2018/19 Comments relating to increasing council tax by 5.99% showed no significant differences to the comments we received relating to increasing council tax by 4.9%. There was a great deal of concern about the affordability of the proposal, even amongst those that felt increasing council tax by another 1% was reasonable (18 mentions). Some respondents were worried about being able to afford an above inflationary increase in council tax during a period when they felt people’s incomes are not increasing (14 mentions). 77 “The government don’t have my bills to pay how can you justify this amount of a rise I can not afford to have my heating on now.” “6% (or just under) is a huge increase for much less services. If you were increasing services it may be worth looking at but some of us have fixed incomes and some of us have none at all and live off our savings.” “With inflation and pension increases at 3% this would not be justified.” “No increase in council tax, my income hasn't changed yet all my outgoings have.” “Again, I am happy to pay this to protect essential front line services such as social care. This will have a financial impact for on my family but it’s worth it for the common good.”
4.-appendix-council-tax-analysis-template-final-16-january-2018.docx