Forum Topic

More cuts to council setvices?

The council leader's claim that we have had "one limb cut off instead of two" isn't good enough. Why should we settle for any limb cut off? A freeze is a cut in real terms. Council tax bills haven't kept up with inflation and the leader can't blame the cuts on central government whilst maintaining this trend.Please sign this petition and tell everyone you know.  https://www.change.org/p/julian-bell-raise-council-tax-bill-in-the-london-borough-of-ealing-by-4-to-reduce-cuts-to-services

Andy Williams ● 3859d7 Comments

I see the only respite centre for children is being axed by Ealing. Another hit for the stressed out and vulnerable and less able to fight back.

Philippa Bond ● 3858d

I was a little surprised to see another council tax freeze.If you want decent services - you've got to pay for them. And that means paying tax. The alternative  (as Galbraith put it) - is private wealth and public squalor.

Richard Grange ● 3858d

It was the banks that nearly bankrupted the country with their reckless lending and not the Labour government. The problem was worldwide. This government tends to keep pretty quiet about what it now owes...  It seems to be trying to take us back to Victorian times and rather like the idea of philanthropy - only where is it?  Life seems very me-me-me-I'm-all-right-Jack... Party politics has a lot to answer for.  Don't believe all the PR!

Philippa Bond ● 3858d

..or stick with a local property tax so people retain some connection with what's going on in their borough, but extend the bandings so more expensive properties pay more. Property and wealth taxes in many other countries are far higher than they are in the UK. I agree that this universal obsession with making cuts just feeds the Tory austerity agenda, while there's a viable alternative to invest in better services, to provide more employment, to increase the tax take and feed future growth.

Peter Evans ● 3859d

I am a socialist who opposes the cuts. I live in the real world. I would not call the last new Labour govt or the current new Labour administration of Ealing council socialist. I agree with Urs - council tax is ridiculous and bears no relation to reality. Stop tax avoidance and evasion, introduce a proper income tax based on ability to pay and there would be no need for council tax at all.

Chris Hurley ● 3859d

The Labour govt . Nearly bankrupted our country so we have to now pay the money back they wasted ! IThe interest rates we are paying that Blair/Brown borrowed is phenomenal! We all know socialists who hate cuts do not live in the real world !!

Dennis Brogan ● 3859d

No, I am sorry, Andy, but I do not agree.Ever since the council tax was introduced, it kept going up way above the level of inflation for endless years. The freeze, even by now, does not make up for the many years of rip-off rises by a council that is not very good when it comes to efficiency savings.Feel free to voluntarily pay more, but many of us are struggling to pay the current council tax. I have been having a "limb cut off" for years!The whole system needs to be overhauled, with income tax rises (the current government is so afraid of), paying for education and social services/care for the elderly that should not be a council issue - the cost should be spread across the country, with those who have a high income paying more, independently of property values from ages ago.

Urs Esser ● 3859d