14 November 2005
MALCOLM MOSS WARNS ABOUT
POTENTIAL BLOW TO COUNCIL TAX PAYERS
Malcolm
Moss has strongly criticised plans by Deputy
Prime Minister John Prescott to charge
householders more taxes for living in a home
with a view.
Householders are set to be charged more council
taxes if their home has a scenic view, patio,
greenhouse, large garage or conservatory. The
proposals were revealed in internal Whitehall
documents on the forthcoming council tax
revaluation in England.
Householders have already been warned that they
face a 10 per cent hike in council tax levies
next April. The charge against an average Band D
property would be £1,335 – an extra £121 a year.
The average Band D figure for householders
living in Fenland is set at £1,373 – more than
double the £614 tax charged for 1997-98.
Mr Moss
said: “This is a bitter blow for hard working
householders in Fenland who want to improve
their homes – but end up being penalised. This
is nothing more than a repeat of the ancient
‘windows tax’ which led to windows being boarded
up, (of which there are countless examples in
our Fenland towns), rather than a fair charge
for the use of local services. These plans are
the ultimate stealth tax – taxing those who have
worked hard and improved their homes, and making
council tax even more punishing for families and
pensioners.
“The
Government has already wasted £60 million on
revaluation, including paying an estimated £45
million on a new American computer system that
will allow John Prescott’s bureaucrats to
identify homes with garages, green houses, large
patios or gardens, with scenic views or in a
Conservation Area. This in turn will allow
Labour to increase council tax on these homes,
by pushing them into a higher council tax band.
Of course, Gordon Brown needs to plug his gaping
hole in the Public Finances somehow. You have
been warned!”
