Surrey to hold a referendum...

Ours is increasing 3% I think I saw for the same thing. I don't mind too much. Just saw something about the police increasing theirs for a recruitment drive. YES PLEASE!
 
I'd vote in favour of the rise on the proviso that the council have a sustainable plan to help with social care, and won't need to redress the matter again 20 years from now (i.e. another referendum).

Edit: I thought I saw 5%. 15% !!! - I'd need to see some supporting evidence as to why they want 15%!!!
 
Would be interesting to see other Surrey guys opinion on this, including maybe the band of tax they pay if they dont mind (just to get an idea of the increase)

Ricochet J said:
Does the EU provide funds to councils for this sort of thing? (Aware we're leaving)
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Not directly but they fund other areas for which i expect the bill will be passed onto local councils or funding dropped all together depending on what it is. I imagine a lot of urban areas wont see large changes in required budgets but areas that receive a lot of agricultural funding and similar may be heavily effected.
 
I would like to pay more tax to ensure vital local services are maintained (or even improved) but I couldn't support an increase in council tax, which is an extremely regressive tax that would adversely impact poorer people. Dunno what the solution is though, ideally I'd like to switch to a progressive tax such as local income tax, however I rather suspect that would be great for Surrey CC, not so good for other councils.
 
neil_g said:
unfortunately someone has to pay for essential services, and with cuts issued by Gov the shortfall has to come from somewhere.
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Unfortunately in my eyes social care isn't an "essential service" compared to the likes of paying for your police force etc.

Ultimately surely a lot of councils budget downfalls are a partial result of their reckless spending. For example putting people up in countless B&B's/Hotels at an extortionate cost.
 
Semple said:
Unfortunately in my eyes social care isn't an "essential service" compared to the likes of paying for your police force etc.

Ultimately surely a lot of councils budget downfalls are a partial result of their reckless spending. For example putting people up in countless B&B's/Hotels at an extortionate cost.
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really? baring in mind social care can cover helping the elderly, people with mental/physical/learning disability, protecting children from abuse etc etc. areas which are already severely underfunded in this country.

it's also worth considering that if funds can't be met then money may be pulled from other services.
 
Ricochet J said:
I'd vote in favour of the rise on the proviso that the council have a sustainable plan to help with social care, and won't need to redress the matter again 20 years from now (i.e. another referendum).
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This. I understand the need, but I don't implicitly trust that the council will use the money wisely.
 
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