This blog is meant to be a space for me to talk about the things that excite or frustrate me about living in Hertsmere. As we are soon to find out what our 2008/9 tax bill is going to be, I felt that this would be a good opportunity for me to mention my bête noire, the dreaded “Council Tax”.

Here is a quick quiz for you, please fill in the following blank or blanks:-

17%, 4.90% , 4.90% , 4.95% , 4.90% , 4.??


Although those numbers may look like they are part of an intelligence calculating IQ quiz, unfortunately they are not. Regrettably for us, they are Hertsmere Borough Council’s Tory driven tax increases for the past five to six years. However, unlike a Mensa question, you don’t have to be a genius to work out what the next number in the sequence is likely to be, even I could have a good stab at that one.

Luckily for the pound in our pockets, the government has stopped councils from foisting Hertsmere-esque 17% rate hikes on its residents, limiting or “capping” increases to a more sensible 5%. However, will a 5% cap necessarily always mean that they will automatically take the full amount from us? It certainly feels that way to me.

As if out of a cookery book, I now think I can recognise the ingredients involved in preparing the public for an upper limit increase in council tax, its the same thing every year.

1) First, take two or three local politicians and gently soften the public up by slowly making public statements regarding government grants and difficult decisions that have to be made, increase the frequency of these statements, keep stirring and bring to the boil.

2) Next, provide your group councillors with prepared speeches justifying the increases and dont forget to throw in a handful of “it’s not our fault” “don’t blame us” type excuses, adding a pinch of the “anticipated costs are coming at us from central government or councty council above” or “this years low governments settlements” rhetoric for good measure. Set aside to rest and wait for the appropriate meeting to bring speeches to the table.

3) Finally, if you find that cruel questions relating to poorly thought out or unpopular services are making your dish slightly bitter, add a dash of spurious accountancy mumbo jumbo and finish it off by seasoning it with a dusting of political flim flam to taste.

Done!

From this resident’s perspective (me), this has always felt like nothing more than a blatant grab for our money. Every year this Tory council has increased council tax by the maximum amount they legally can, way over the rate of inflation. The figures that don’t lie, lead me to ask myself this question, if as we are continually led to believe this is a monetarily competent ruling group, why do they repeatedly need to make such huge tax demands of us every year?

Although over the next few weeks I have many questions lined up for you, I will finish off today by asking you this. In the Borehamwood Times on the 18th of Jan 2008 when speaking about the sale of the Woodcock Pub site, the finance and property portfolio Councillor John Graham is quoted as saying that “the sale (of the site) will provide a reasonable lump sum from an asset that produces little revenue income for the council, this will benefit residents as the money we generate is put towards improving our services and helps keep council tax down”.

Based on his comments, although I am eagerly anticipating this extra low council tax bill, I am even more curious to understand in what way he feels this will 'specifically' help to keep council tax down? Can capital income be used for revenue purposes as he appears to be alluding? I thought that only the interest could be used from this type of income? But hey, as I am a relatively new and inexperienced councillor, what would I know? Im not too sure what impact if any there would be on our council tax based on the £30k-£40k in interest we would receive on the capital income for the sale of this site?

You never know, maybe for the first time in the 9 years since they took over the council, this Tory group is planning to announce that they will be lowering our council tax or even better, giving us a refund? I Hope I didn’t ruin the surprise for you.

Until next time dear friends, this is Ian Feeney waiting for Godot.