council taxpayers Tag

No more ‘propaganda on the rates’ says Pickles

Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has launched a review into council-funded free newspapers, telling Channel 4 News’s Stephanie West they are “propaganda on the rates dressed up as local reporting” that could damage the local newspaper industry. Local newspapers are already under the cosh of recession and of keeping up with technological advances, with 100 [...]

Bungling Council Orders 20 Dead People To Court For Not Paying Council Tax

A local council has been forced to apologise after sending council tax bills and court orders to 20 people who have passed away. The families of the deceased were distraught to receive court summonses addressed to their loved ones – some of whom died 10 years ago. Croydon Council in South London admitted the mistake, [...]

Taxpayers Could Be Hit With County Council £60k Legal Bill

TAXPAYERS may have to foot a near £60,000 legal bill for a High Court battle between Notts County Council and its waste contractor. A Freedom of Information request by the Nottingham Post shows the council has racked up almost £47,000 in costs for counsel in the case as well as up to £12,000 on solicitors’ [...]

Defiant Pensioner Takes On Merton Council And The Bailiffs

A defiant pensioner is taking on bailiffs under data protection and harassment acts, claiming Merton Council’s collection of tax is unlawful. Former accountant Traude Konig, 65, of Kingston Road, believes hired heavies have been abusive and illegally tried to gain entry to her house after she fell behind on her council tax by just six [...]

Midland Councils pay out nearly half a million in translation services

During the past two years, nearly £500,000 has been spent by Councils in the Midlands on translators converting documents into numerous different languages. Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council spent a massive £205,708 of taxpayers money between 2007 and 2009 on translation services yet during the same time, Coventry City Council had paid out £135,387. Birmingham City [...]

Paying off employees cost Council Taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds

After an overspend of £1.8million, Uttlesford District Council have saddled Council Taxpayers with further costs to pay off Council employees. During the past 3 years, the Council have paid more than £350,000 to former employees in agreements with some containing ‘gagging orders’. After numerous mistakes in the Council’s finance department which cost Council Taxpayers £1.8million, [...]

Council awards employees whilst cutting services

During the past 3 years, Wolverhampton City Council has spent over £125K of Council Taxpayers money on award ceremonies for Council employees. The huge sum of money was used to hire ceremony venues, catering staff and the purchase of trophy prizes and gift vouchers at a time when the Council is drastically reducing services to [...]

Council Taxpayers face fixed penalties for excess Christmas rubbish

Council Taxpayers in Northampton are incensed with their Council’s warning that any resident who leaves out too much refuse over the Christmas holidays may be fined for fly tipping. Householders, some of whom who will not have their refuse collected for several weeks, may face fines of £100 if surplus rubbish is left outside of [...]