WARNING: COUNCIL TAX REVALUATION "BIGGEST STEALTH TAX RISE EVER" FOR BOGNOR REGIS

Written by Simon McDougall and published in Council Tax Revaluation - Bognor Regis on Thu 24th Feb 2005

The Government's forthcoming revaluation of Council Tax will mean bigger bills for many Bognor Regis residents if Labour or the Conservatives were to win the General Election Parliamentary Spokesperson Simon McDougall warned today. The warning came as local Councillor Mr McDougall, Lib Dem Group Leader on Arun District Council, today tabled a motion demanding that the Government stop the tax-raising revaluation and scrap the unfair Council Tax.

The revaluation of council tax bands for all homes in England and Scotland is planned to start in 2005 with revised bills being issued to residents in 2007. All properties were originally valued in 1991. Wales has already re-valued properties and revised bills are being issued this year.

Evidence from the revaluation process in Wales shows 33% of properties moving up Council Tax bands and only 8% going down. In Cardiff 64% moved up and only 2% down. Research by Cardiff Council demonstrates that some of the poorest areas in Wales were hardest hit because many houses in these areas have had above average rises in their house values since 1991.

"Bognor Regis residents have already been hit by council tax rises. Now council tax revaluation is set to hit them after the election. Council tax was unfair when Michael Howard's Conservatives brought it in. Labour's council tax revaluation will make it worse. It's time to scrap the unfair Council Tax." Explained Simon McDougall.

Mr McDougall added, "Bognor Regis has 2 of the top ten council wards in West Sussex in multiple deprivation namely Pevensey and Marine wards and Bognor Regis residents are amongst the lowest earners in the County. This tax time bomb waiting to explode after the election is the last thing they need, local families work hard enough to make ends meet without hidden extras that will make their circumstances worse. That is why I fully support a Local Income tax which is based on the individual's ability to pay".

ENDS