Jobless may be forced to pay council tax bills

“To Quote kingofkernow - " I propose that you do not charge the unemployed for Council Tax but you cut the benefits for those that dont want to work. They are easy to spot as they are normally waddling about Asda with their kids on a school day before they pile into their free Motability car and head off to a carboot somewhere. By the way, since when did being fat and lazy be a disablity ?"

It is a common misconception that what Kingofkernow described as a 'Free Mobility Car' is actually free. In fact it is not free, the scheme offers a car for lease to a person in exchange for the medically assessed Disability Allowance (DLA) of £54.05 per week.

There are rigorous tests to establish eligibility for the allowance which can be given for a limited timescale, to allow recovery from an illness or temporary disability affecting mobility, or for an indefinite period for those with a serious long term disability.

Also eligible are those in receipt of War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement (WPMS) currently £60.40 per week.

Information regarding the mobility car scheme can be found on their website which explains eligibility in detail.

It is unfortunate that such ill informed inaccuracies are allowed to pass as fact and a sad reflection on our county that this type of bilious attack should come from someone calling themselves King of Cornwall.”

“Cornwall Council has had its budget for Council Tax Benefit reduced by some $6 million. As they should do, they have started a consultation into how this deficit can be resolved.

The preferred option is to "that all working age recipients of council tax benefit should pay an additional 30% contribution towards their council tax i.e. receive less support than the previous council tax benefit scheme, in order to make the new scheme affordable"

This hits the poorest people in the county the hardest.

I have some alternative solutions:

1. Enforce payment of arrears from those that do not receive Council Tax Benefit. I have written to Cornwall Council requesting the amount of unpaid arrears is. It will be interesting to see how much money that would save.
2. Abolish the 10% discount given to people with second homes/holiday lets. If you can afford a second home, you can afford to pay the full amount, and if a property is being run as a holiday let then it will encourage owners to have the property occupied year round rather than sitting idle.
3. Reduce the 'capital limit' from the current £16,000 to £11,280 allowed under current ISA savings limits. I don't know how many people this would affect, but I think it is a fairer amount than the arbitrary amount that stands today.
4. Limit entitlement to a maximum of council tax band D preventing people who live in houses in a higher council tax band from claiming a higher benefit. This is actually one of the council's own proposals as set out under option 3. I support this proposal with one proviso: that families that are unable to find suitable accommodation in sub-band E properties are exempted.
5. Raise the amount on higher value properties (bands E - H). Band A properties have a nominal value under £40,000, whereas band H properties are over £320,000. This 8-fold value strategy is not reflected in the amount paid in Council Tax. In fact, Band H properties pay less than 2.5 times the amount of a band A property. I do not suggest that Band H properties should pay eight times the amount of a band A property, just that the current dynamic could be tweaked to protect those that cannot afford Council Tax Benefit by charging more for those that can.

I am confident that if these proposals were adopted, Cornwall Council would be more than capable of meeting the £6 million shortfall they face without having to lay the bill at those most seriously affected by their own proposals.

If you would like Cornwall Council to know your own thoughts on the matter, please complete their consultation questionnaire and write to your MP and local paper's editor as I have done. They are actively asking you to 'Help [them] design a scheme for Cornwall'. Click on the 'Consultation Survey' at the bottom of the linked page to do just that.

http://tinyurl.com/d338ykl”

“Jobless may be forced to pay council tax bills? Ha! We all know who'll be picking up the tab, Joe taxpayer.”

“Are you from Bodmin kimmyp ?

I am a Bodmin person and the town is rife with workshy beneft scroungers. Your coment about your neighbour i happening all over the town !
There is work in the Bodmin area as you have only have to look to the hundreds of East Europeans living and working in Bodmin. These people are also on the whole law abiding and have self respect as well as respect for others.

I propose that you do not charge the unemployed for Council Tax but you cut the benefits for those that dont want to work. They are easy to spot as they are normally waddling about Asda with their kids on a school day before they pile into their free Motability car and head off to a carboot somewhere. By the way, since when did being fat and lazy be a disablity ?”

“Same old same old. The country is in financial trouble due to the irresponsible bankers gambling unsuccessfully with OUR money and who gets to do the digging out? Not the bankers who are the cause of it but those least able to shoulder the burden.
As for the example quoted by Kimmy it's the system that is at fault. If it worked properly those in need would get it and those who clearly don't want to work would not but it is never going to work properly so there is no need to punish the genuine claimants because of the minority of scroungers.”

“The phrase "Its like asking turkeys to vote for Christmas" comes to mind.”

“Does anyone know exactly how many second homes are in Cornwall, I know some villages have hardly anyone living in them but does anyone have an actual figure because it is something that should be requested as an FOI yet without the time till the public consultation ends excuses could be made for not releasing it on time.

If anyone from the paper reads these comments maybe they could do it, as papers do seem to get preferential treatment when it comes to FOIs.”

“First, this is targeting the helpless! Someone who is skint will probbably not know there is a survey or be able to take part.
Second, how much will they spend in chasing people who cannot pay to find out that they have no money?

This will just bring unwarranted stress and worry upon honest people who are down on thier luck, the dishonest wont pay anyrate no matter how many rules are made - don't expect an unreasonable person to be reasonable!

Maybe proper policing of top council earners expenses and a reduction in top earners pay would save money - the top council executives are living off all our backs - not the jobless.”

“Doitdreckly. You also make a number of valid points. We should however take a closer look at the Coalition Government's policies. Nowhere does it state that councils should consider charging the unemployed etc a percentage of Council Tax. What it does say is that Council's must reduce their spending, and the grant each council receives from Central Government will be reduced accordingly.
I am sure the Council can reduce its spending commitments without damaging front-line services, or charging the unemployed Council Tax. It could start by looking at the amount paid to Councillors, most particularly those within the 'Cabinet', and by reducing the amount paid to 'consultants'; many of whom are in reality those who have been recently retired from council employment!”

“""If they wanted to make more money why don't they target those who can afford to pay a little more instead of hitting those struggling at the bottom?"

That is so not the right way to look at it!!

If i work hard and earn decent money, i do not expect to have to pay some layabouts council tax because they cant/wont get a job. A neighbour near my parents has never worked in his life, has grown up children ( who dont work either) he stills manages to find the money to smoke and drink and play music all the time.

Yes, there are people who do need help, iearlier this year i claimed both HB and Council Tax benefit when i was made redundant but as soon as i found work ( within a month ) i was off it and paying my own way.”