Folkestone & Hythe District Council Tax likely to be the highest in Kent for the 21st year in a row
On the 28 February, 2024, our 30 elected members of Folkestone & Hythe District Council will meet to set the council tax that you as residents of the district will have to pay.
It will rise. Just like the sun, even if it is hidden behind the clouds. It will more likely than not mean we continue to have the highest Council Tax of any Council in Kent for the 21st year in a row.
The Green led administration will, with the inevitable rise, hurt the poorest households most because council tax forms a larger share of their monthly outgoings than that of a wealthier family.
The leader of the Green led administration, Cllr Jim Martin, in previous years has said – I don’t have an answer to why we are paying the highest council tax in Kent. Yet on the 28 Feb, he along with his Green colleagues will inflict more damage on households who are already struggling in a cost of living crisis.
As Jim says, “we don’t get the value”, so why then propose a rise in Council Tax, when there are other solutions?
In 2016/17 there were 2,501 referrals made by the Council to its bailiffs to collect Council Tax. In 2018/19 there were 1,774 referrals. And in 2022/23 there were just 948 referrals. This is a 62% reduction of referrals to the Council’s bailiffs – CDER and Newlyns.
As welcome as the reduction is, one needs to remember the former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi said back in August 2022, workers earning around £45,000 annually could struggle to cope with soaring living costs, as well as the District’s and Country’s poorest households. This means nurses, teachers, self employed and many others will be affected by the Council Tax rise; which Jim, and his Green cohort will inflict upon residents of the district.
The Institute of Government have made it clear, rates of council tax, set by individual councils, have risen by more than 30% in real terms, in 2021/22 compared to 2009/10.
The current council tax system in the UK is structured in such a way that it disproportionately affects lower-income households. One of the primary reasons for this is that council tax bands are based on property values from 1991, which do not accurately reflect today’s housing market. Moreover, because council tax is levied on a per-property basis rather than a per-person basis, those living in larger homes tend to pay less per person than those living in smaller homes. This creates regressive consequences for those who can least afford it.
The regressive nature of the current council tax system undoubtedly contributes to growing inequalities within our District our County and our Country.
Council Tax bands need overhauling as they remain based on 1991 property valuations despite a vast increase in house prices over the past three decades. Until that happens, those earning up to £45,000 will be penalized by such a regressive tax.
Fairer Share propose a proportional property tax. There campaign proposes:
- A simple flat rate of 0.48% on the current value of your property.
- The tax is only paid by property owners, not tenants.
- Payment of the tax can be deferred for those owners unable to pay.
- Exemptions on second homes and undeveloped plots will be scrapped.
- Annual and automated valuations for all properties.
Regardless of having a positive mind set, and believing the sun shines and rises behind the clouds, if there is no money left in the purse or wallet at the end of the month, paying a regressive tax just can’t be done, as residents in more deprived areas of the district tend to pay a higher percentage of their income towards council tax compared to those in wealthier areas. This imbalance puts additional financial pressure on already struggling households, while wealthier areas benefit from lower tax rates relative to their property values.
With these inequities in mind, it’s essential for policymakers and local authorities to address this unequal distribution of the council tax burden and work towards creating a fairer system for all residents across the district
As such, We call upon our Green led Council to: propose a motion to support the Fairer Share campaign, and write to Michael Gove MP to introduce changes which will end this regressive tax which prevents levelling up.
If you are struggling with your Council Tax, the Council do offer help and support, as do the Shepway Citizen’s Advice Bureau
The Shepway Vox Team
Journalism for the People NOT the Powerful
Trouble is many of us who own our homes have mortgages to pay and whilst the value of the property may rise, the Tax would have to be paid in cash. Asset rich cash poor is the result of ridicules house prices.
Will the rise be used to pay for the complete cock up this Council has made in moving to a committee system .
It’s reckoned £100 thousand pounds has been wasted once again on “Consultants “ . But don’t worry they the Councillors won’t lose any sleep over it … it’s not their money
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/council-s-100k-restructure-dubbed-more-talking-and-a-lot-l-300978/
Unless you have paid off your mortgage, the real owners are the mortgage lenders, this is the great myth of home “ownership”.
Government rushi has told all councils to put it up by the max so most will
If the campaign you propose transfers the liability for council taxes to landlords, they will simply increase the rent to pay for it or sell up and remove another rental from an already overheated rental market. All should pay for what they use. I don’t like paying tax any more than the next person but given the reduced grants to councils there is little choice.
By the way, There campaign proposes would read better at Their…
If the council tax is only paid by property owners, not tenants. than the rent has to go up to sky high, If the tenant on benefit, they can get tax benefit, landlord can not. There are so many landlord living with the rental income of 1 or 2 properties, and their rental income is not great. Why don’t you think to abolish the council Tax and ask to central government to spend the income tax for the country and the people instead of spending on war all over the world. What about bringing all the stolen wealth from the offshore islands !!
Nigel Lawson had the idea of increasing the council tax rate on a particular property when it changed hands. Unfortunately, he was out of office before he could introduce it.