Council tax rise ‘daylight robbery’, protesters claim (From York Press)
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Council tax rise ‘daylight robbery’, protesters claim
9:49am Tuesday 27th November 2012 in News
Members of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, above, during their protest outside the Mansion House in York
A PROTEST has been held against a proposed council tax rise in York.
Supporters of the Taxpayers’ Alliance met in St Helen’s Square to rally support for a freeze in council tax for the next financial year.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister David Cameron urged City of York Council to review its decision to increase council tax by two per cent.
However, council leader James Alexander said freezing council tax would mean further cuts than are already being implemented due to reductions in Government funding, which would effect services.
Andrew Allison, of the alliance, said: “It is important we all join forces and send a clear message to York councillors that increasing council tax would impose an unnecessary burden on hard-working families already struggling to pay their bills.”
Elsewhere, a green “tug of war” was held to protest against the Government’s renewable energy plans.
Friends Of The Earth claims Chancellor George Osbourne is overly reliant on expensive imported gas and says he should invest more in renewable energy.
To illustrate the point, green volunteers from York and Ryedale Friends Of The Earth and People And Planet staged a tug-of-war outside York Art Gallery with an Osborne lookalike.
Guy Wallbanks, energy campaigner, said: “Green is working – while the UK struggles in a double-dip recession the low-carbon sector is growing, paving the way to new jobs.”
Comments(22)
meme
says...
10:54am Tue 27 Nov 12
powerwatt
says...
11:16am Tue 27 Nov 12
perplexed
says...
11:42am Tue 27 Nov 12
powerwatt wrote:I have no time for James Alexander whatsoever, but does 'powerwatt' seriously expect the people of York to believe that the council leader has a 'personal slush fund.' If he has evidence either publish it or go the authorities!
Just think if there wasn't a personal slush fund for the council leader. That would make up for not rising council tax and receiving the government grant
By all means challenge the politicians, vote them out of power, but this 'pitiful' name calling is just sad.
roskoboskovic
says...
11:48am Tue 27 Nov 12
roskoboskovic
says...
11:48am Tue 27 Nov 12
BL2
says...
12:32pm Tue 27 Nov 12
perplexed wrote:Maybe it refers to the completely unjustified £2.5 million "vanity" fund?
powerwatt wrote:I have no time for James Alexander whatsoever, but does 'powerwatt' seriously expect the people of York to believe that the council leader has a 'personal slush fund.' If he has evidence either publish it or go the authorities!
Just think if there wasn't a personal slush fund for the council leader. That would make up for not rising council tax and receiving the government grant
By all means challenge the politicians, vote them out of power, but this 'pitiful' name calling is just sad.
http://www.yorkpress
.co.uk/news/9549191.
__2_5m_fund_of_counc
il_leader_under_atta
ck/
YorkPatrol
says...
1:43pm Tue 27 Nov 12
TerryYork
says...
2:07pm Tue 27 Nov 12
And I don't understand how the strange Torys above can overlook how the cuts have been imposed by Central Government?
Torys - too much time on their hands.
powerwatt
says...
2:45pm Tue 27 Nov 12
BL2 wrote:I thought it was £1million. But yes that is the one.
perplexed wrote:Maybe it refers to the completely unjustified £2.5 million "vanity" fund? http://www.yorkpress .co.uk/news/9549191. __2_5m_fund_of_counc il_leader_under_atta ck/powerwatt wrote: Just think if there wasn't a personal slush fund for the council leader. That would make up for not rising council tax and receiving the government grantI have no time for James Alexander whatsoever, but does 'powerwatt' seriously expect the people of York to believe that the council leader has a 'personal slush fund.' If he has evidence either publish it or go the authorities! By all means challenge the politicians, vote them out of power, but this 'pitiful' name calling is just sad.
Thisisme
says...
3:25pm Tue 27 Nov 12
http://stevegalloway
.mycouncillor.org.uk
/2012/11/27/cabinet-
set-to-approve-25000
-jaunt-to-cannes/
You will find more information here on any York related things than you do in the press!
rothko
says...
4:04pm Tue 27 Nov 12
co.uk/politics/2009/
oct/09/taxpayers-all
iance-director-tax
perplexed
says...
4:12pm Tue 27 Nov 12
powerwatt wrote:'Venture fund or Vanity fund', call it what you like, undemocratic absolutely, illegal, not unless 'powerwatt' or 'BL2' knows something the rest of us don't ! Perhaps, it is something to do with being Council Leader, from what I remember Steve Galloway's term of office was a equally a 'colourful' one.
BL2 wrote:I thought it was £1million. But yes that is the one.
perplexed wrote:Maybe it refers to the completely unjustified £2.5 million "vanity" fund? http://www.yorkpress .co.uk/news/9549191. __2_5m_fund_of_counc il_leader_under_atta ck/powerwatt wrote: Just think if there wasn't a personal slush fund for the council leader. That would make up for not rising council tax and receiving the government grantI have no time for James Alexander whatsoever, but does 'powerwatt' seriously expect the people of York to believe that the council leader has a 'personal slush fund.' If he has evidence either publish it or go the authorities! By all means challenge the politicians, vote them out of power, but this 'pitiful' name calling is just sad.
While such partisan politics is always good for a laugh , the facts are a number of tory council's including Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and East Cambridgeshire equally intend to raise the council tax.
Of course challenge CYC, and when it comes to the elections vote accordingly ( I know I will ) but please let us not be too selective when it comes to the facts or salacious innuendo , it is just boring.
bob the builder
says...
6:00pm Tue 27 Nov 12
Buzz Light-year
says...
8:41pm Tue 27 Nov 12
Thisisme wrote:Yes. If you want the anti anyone who isn't LibDem slant you're in.
This is what our council tax is going to be paying for..... http://stevegalloway .mycouncillor.org.uk /2012/11/27/cabinet- set-to-approve-25000 -jaunt-to-cannes/ You will find more information here on any York related things than you do in the press!
Galloway's arrogance is on record, his tenure was by no means free of black marks.
How quickly we forget.
They're *all* the same when they get in!
Yorkie-Clifton
says...
9:17pm Tue 27 Nov 12
Yorkie-Clifton
says...
9:26pm Tue 27 Nov 12
Yorkie-Clifton wrote:The Press article i refer was reported recently in the Press on 25 Nov
Please will someone correct me if i am wrong but i read recently about the Councillors wanting to increase their expenses or salaries and poor Councillor Scott is now in the dog house for not voting with the Labour Councillors . Now is this where my increase in Council Tax end up . Will someone correct my ignorance . I believe its a very good point .
====================
======.
The whip was removed after the party, with the exception of Coun Scott, voted to reject all the panel’s recommendations, including one saying that York councillors should receive annual pay rises of almost £2,600.
====================
=========
There is your Council Tax rise ??
Yorkie-Clifton
says...
9:26pm Tue 27 Nov 12
Yorkie-Clifton wrote:The Press article i refer was reported recently in the Press on 25 Nov
Please will someone correct me if i am wrong but i read recently about the Councillors wanting to increase their expenses or salaries and poor Councillor Scott is now in the dog house for not voting with the Labour Councillors . Now is this where my increase in Council Tax end up . Will someone correct my ignorance . I believe its a very good point .
====================
======.
The whip was removed after the party, with the exception of Coun Scott, voted to reject all the panel’s recommendations, including one saying that York councillors should receive annual pay rises of almost £2,600.
====================
=========
There is your Council Tax rise ??
Omega Point
says...
10:37pm Tue 27 Nov 12
rothko wrote:Well said. Parading as guardians of the poor tax payer, they are a right wing front for far right individuals who dare not stand up and really be counted on their political views
Is this the same Taxpayers' Alliance who had a director living in France who paid no UK tax? http://www.guardian. co.uk/politics/2009/ oct/09/taxpayers-all iance-director-tax
Yorkie-Clifton
says...
10:49pm Tue 27 Nov 12
Omega Point wrote:Bugger who they are -- If they stick up for and help me -- I welcome their information and support . If they speak the truth then shame the Devil ??
rothko wrote:Well said. Parading as guardians of the poor tax payer, they are a right wing front for far right individuals who dare not stand up and really be counted on their political views
Is this the same Taxpayers' Alliance who had a director living in France who paid no UK tax? http://www.guardian. co.uk/politics/2009/ oct/09/taxpayers-all iance-director-tax
Yes let them parade the truth . I fully support anyone who speaks direct and Truthfulness . Lets not go into peoples private lives . Some Councillors have some very shady sides . That's their business .
Micklegate
says...
7:30am Wed 28 Nov 12
Yorkie-Clifton wrote:You are wrong. The conservative group said allowances should be frozen not increased snd all groups followed except Cllr Scott who as usual wanted to be different and so the centre of attention. His point was as usual very confused, but he was basically encouraging a higher allowance
Please will someone correct me if i am wrong but i read recently about the Councillors wanting to increase their expenses or salaries and poor Councillor Scott is now in the dog house for not voting with the Labour Councillors . Now is this where my increase in Council Tax end up . Will someone correct my ignorance . I believe its a very good point .
Gary Gilmores Eyes
says...
1:45pm Wed 28 Nov 12
Give us some more rope for you to be hanged by please James.
I like a laugh!
Capt. Dobie says...
10:39am Tue 27 Nov 12
As for imported gas Vs renewables, having spent >£2k on a new gas boiler + radiators + fitting earlier this year, how else am I expected to warm my home cheaply?
Solar panels + wind turbine + ground-source heat pumps to heat my home electrically would cost me in excess of £25k. Sorry FOTE, I haven't got that kind of dosh, and a 4 or 5 yr loan to cover this would not pay for itself inside 20 yrs.
The main reason this country obtains 'expensive overseas gas' is that we are, in the majority, reliant on it for heating our homes.
As with all arguments these days, there are many sides, many data sets and variable outcomes.
On that cheery note, time for elevenses...