Local Government Minister Jim McMahon writes for e Mirror that vulnerable people are being forced to pay a years’ council tax in one hit or face bailiffs – which ‘isn’t right or fair’
We all know how frustrating it is when local services aren’t able to deliver.
Whether it’s social care, road maintenance, rubbish collection, or clean streets, we all rely on good quality services which are there when we need them. Despite the best efforts of local councils, the truth is they are under pressure.
The reason is clear. In recent years, local councils have been stripped to the bone. We are now feeling the dire consequences of austerity and unfairness experienced by many places, where residents have seen council tax hikes for often worsening neighbourhood services.
It is these frontline services which make places clean, safe and decent. When services suffer, people and communities suffer too. What’s worse, our tax collection rules are outdated. Vulnerable members of the community who miss council tax payments because of financial struggle are expected to immediately pay the whole year’s sum up front or see bailiffs sent in.
This just isn’t right or fair. We know we must drop this broken model and we’re clearly swimming with the tide on this – there’s broad agreement across council leaders, experts, and MPs that the current funding model is unfair.
We have already confirmed £69bn in funding for local authorities. So we need a long-term solution, in contrast to the sticking-plaster politics seen previously. That’s why we are changing the outdated and confused system of council funding to put councils back on their feet, and to improve the lives of people across England, delivering the support our public services need and deserve.
For too long funding hasn’t followed need and as a result councils with the greatest demand for services have been overwhelmed as the last government turned its back.
We will put that right. We will also scrap the wasteful and expensive bidding wars that councils have to go through to get tiny pots of money, which pointlessly pit areas against each other. We will simplify over 300 grants to common sense funding pots based on a fair assessment of need.
Saving the public purse money far better spent delivering services for local people. We are committed to giving councils 3 year funding agreements instead of making them go hand to mouth year by year.
And we will deliver the first such funding settlement in a decade from next April. We’re asking local people what they think of our plans – because we want the people who know their areas best to be at the heart of rebuilding better local services.
We have also launched a consultation on bringing the council tax collection system up to date, including by moving to default 12 month payments and plans to provide more support for vulnerable people.
We are already reviewing debt collection practices. We want to be firm with those who deliberately avoid paying what’s due, because that effects everyone else, but we want to support those in need of help.
Because this isn’t about punishment – it’s about ensuring a fair deal between councils and taxpayers. It’s about treating decent people with decency. Councils are key to our everyday lives, providing many of the vital local services we rely on.
We have started the work of fixing the foundations because we aren’t willing to stand by when we know our councils and our communities deserve so much better.