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Cameron vows to give council tax payers veto on sharp rises
Joe Murphy, Political Editor17 Feb 2009
DAVID CAMERON today promised council tax payers the right to veto exorbitant increases by holding referendums.
Votes would be triggered automatically if town hall chiefs tried to impose a council tax increase higher than a national threshold. Without local approval, council leaders would have to draw up a new budget. But if they won public support, they would be free to spend as much as they liked.
The system would replace the current policy where Whitehall steps in to cap the most extreme rises. A Tory Green Paper also proposed giving residents the power to force referendums on big local issues, such as planning and spending.
"We want more power for local people to make change happen through the right to hold a local referendum if enough people want one on a given issue," said the Tory leader.
There would also be a dozen more directly-elected mayors for big cities such as Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Coventry, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nottingham, Sheffield and Wakefield.
Other changes would be more localised policing, powers for councils to subsidise post offices, and fewer Whitehall diktats. Mr Cameron said the reforms would restore the link between people's votes and what happened in their area.
Reader views (9)
Yeah well,............talk is cheap, remember his words when you are next at the ballot box!
An attempt to curtail the excesses of Local Goevernment??
...............This I gotta see!
Ah well,...I can dream can't I?
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power".
Abraham Lincoln
Yeah,...I agree Abe,...you just watch him backtrack on every promise he makes, just like the shower in power now!
GERONIMO
- Geronimo, LONDON MIDDLESEX, 18/02/2009 02:51
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David Cameron is not offering enough. The whole system of council tax has to be changed. It must become a fairer tax based on the ability to pay from income. How can it be fair when the same type of property in different parts of the country attracts a tax that can very so much? What makes him think that pensioners or low paid are able to afford to pay these higher taxes if they live in certain parts of the country? A pensioner is a pensioner. Where they live does not necessarily put money in their pockets
- Christine Melsom, Headley, Hampshire, 17/02/2009 22:41
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If David Cameron was that bothered about council taxes; he would do better by bringing back the odd council rates system based on property value etc.
The bigger your house; the more you pay.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 17/02/2009 22:31
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I worked for a London Borough for ten years and we had several rounds of cuts. Invariably it is front end services that take the cuts, not the hidden bureaucracy - management services, PR and the like. So this great idea of a referendum will turn into "do you want to see libraries closed, playgrounds closed, childcare cut and reduced services to old people, or not?".
- Tonyb, Melbourne, Australia, 17/02/2009 21:56
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We need more referendums, let the people have an immediate say, and not let the politicians tell us what to eat, drink and think. Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world, their political system is based in referendums. Lets us have referendums and transfer the power from a of a small group of priviledged self interested power hungry individuals, back to the real people. That is you and me.
- Bondy, spain, 17/02/2009 18:55
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i would imagine all those self serving council executives that will rush for the exit once they see easy street is fast becoming a cul de sac will quickly vote for a soft landing viz a viz a cushioning golden goodbye and a gold plated pension.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 17/02/2009 17:52
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Cameron also wants to see the creation of more directly elected Mayors. This is not a move towards increasing democracy, it is a cynical ploy to move away from it. It is, in fact, a EU policy directive and part of the regionalisation of EUrope in preparation for the desired era of "post-democracy" i.e the EUSSR.
Elected mayors have enormous amounts of executive power and are safe in post for five years at a time. They rule their boroughs using a cabinet of cronies appointed by themselves, on the "advice" of their sponsoring political party.
They effectively render the council chamber, and all councillors outside the cabinet, completely powerless.
If you doubt what I say to be true, ask yourself this; why are NuLiebour so keen on directly elected mayors?
The answer is simple, the control of the many by the few and the ability to disregard democratic mandate.
Trawl the local newspapers from the regions that where successfully conned into adopting this system and you will see for yourselves.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 17/02/2009 17:42
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He can promise what he wants at the moment it is what he does when he wins the next election that will count.
He's not doing too bad in the election stakes considering he is almost invisible at the moment.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford England, 17/02/2009 16:22
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Excellent. Keep it up. Good policy which NuLab will soon steal.
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 17/02/2009 15:16
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