Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Latest just in from DDC
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COUNCIL TAX DECISION
The average total Council Tax bill for households in Dover District is to increase by 0.54% for the next financial year. Dover District Council agreed Council Tax levels at its meeting yesterday (7 March), and confirmed that the District Council part of the bill is to increase by 3.45% - or less than 11p a week for Band D properties.
The average total bill for a Band D property in Dover District for 12/13 will be £1,468.95. This includes the element of Council Tax for Kent County Council (£1,047.78), Dover District Council (£164.43), Kent Police (£138.68), Kent Fire and Rescue Service (£67.95), and an average for Town and Parish Councils of £50.11.
Dover District Council has one of the lowest Council Tax Band D rates in Kent, and the lowest rate in East Kent. For more details, please see the Budget report on the DDC website at
www.dover.gov.uk (click on agendas and minutes, then Council for 7 March).
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I received that too of course Paul, but didn't want to post it up, being a Conservative Councillor, it would have looked biased of course.
The Financial Director and his team have done very well from the Officer side and Mike Connolly and Paul Watkins from the member side.
I understand that the 11p per week from the Council Tax payer will make a significant difference to the income levels for DDC, helping them maintain services and balancing the books.
Roger
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Im not sure I am quite grasping those figures Roger. Overall the bill is rising by 0.54%. Does that mean just over half of 1% or is it 54%. If it means 54% its quite strong and no mistake..yet on the other hand if its rising half of 1% how come the District Council bit is 3.45%.
Im a bit baffled..it might be just that its early in the morning.
I think I need a cup of tea for the moment.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
[half was through my first cup...]
It means about £5 per year increase on each (band D) household's bill. So...although there is mention of how low it once was relative to elsewhere in Kent it's not thought important enough to spell out what this rise will mean in that regard.
Yet 1% of the KCC portion is £10.47(.78) which takes this weekly 'hike' to more like £6.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
# 4.Agree.........Boss its the way they ell `em..........that makes it look good .....only until it sinks in.....
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
there are so many facets that make up the final figure, kcc, town council, fire and rescue and the police.
the final figure of 11p a week rise is the only one that matters, seems reasonable enough.
think our rail commuters would like to see something similar on their season ticket prices.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
The instances of the gag you reference there Howard are too numerous to mention; where the tooth-ache is 'cured' by the application of a hammer to the toe, to cite but one.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
damm there goes my pension pay rise,skint again.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Once again only some of the story from DDC and Roger. your DDC increase should have been o.o% Nil Nothing and here is why.!
That nice Mr Pickles said to all Councils don't put up your Council Tax as the People don't like it,so I will give all Councils 2.5% If you don't put it up,then the increase will be 0%. But Dover wanted to put in up more to 3.45%,but over 3.5% they would have got a nasty slap from the Nice Mr Pickles and they would have been capped or we would have had to have a referendum.So it was kept below 3.5%
Now an 11p rise seems small,add to that £40 for your Green waste which used to be paid through your Council Tax and now isn't you pay extra.So if you have a Green Collection your 11p a week rise is now £57 a year.
Now only 30 Councils so far have broken My Pickles heart but word has it from a top Tory,Mr Pickles isnt very happy with DDC so when you add the car parking charges,plus those who have to pay rent rises up by 6.80% on average according to our numbers man your increase could be as much as 25%.Not as Cllr Connolly said at the meeting 1/3rd of a cheap cigarette each week.
The thing is Mr Pickles being a nice man(not) was going to give DDC £150,000 from the Goverment but DDC wanted more this time from you so they all put up the rates and get £227,000. plus £320,000 estimated for your green waste.
It is funny what you can do with numbers,and these numbers are the truth.so that is how to make 11p a week into £1 a week if you dont have a car or rent a house,if you do it goes alot more.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
gets very complicated, naturally councils put their spin on things = will have to delve a little deeper to get the full story.
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
Typical JHG posting. He either does not understand it or chooses to put his spin into the issue.
Let's be factual Labour did not vote against the Budget. The first time in my re-collection.
Pickles offered 2.5% but failed to consolidate the sum in the next years settlement.
Therefore 2.5% this year means a further 2.5% cut next year & for the future.
Add that to the £500k grant cut next year & you have a further ongoing cut.
Our view was simple this is not a deal that suits this District. Further cuts on top of the identified grant cut leaves this District vulnerable.
If residents are unhappy now & I heed the comments on this Forum then nasties to come for the sake of 11p ain't worth it.
We are the most economical Council in East Kent.
If you live in Shepway the service will cost you 46% more, 32% in Thanet & 12% in Canterbury.
Our staffing levels are 33% lower than Thanet.
The rise for DDC is 11p Band D & when you add Towns & Parishes the Council Tax rise is 0.5%.
We will still face difficult decisions for the next Budget round & don't believe we should compound it by a knee jerk decision.
Watty
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Paul my spin means the numbers are right then! Yes I was surprised the Labour Group abstained but I was not at the pre-meeting as I was at another Council meeting the previous night.But those that were there said it didnt matter how we vote it will be carried by the Tory Majority.So like all your members who ALL voted for it,we all abstained.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
So JHG you followed the whip & voted as you were told. The Labour group sat on the fence.
Again you have failed to tell the public the whole story just the headline grab.
Watty
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Yes Paul as your lot did as well, so what numbers do you dispute.Including the Green waste if needed Council House rents up 6.8% and the Council Tax not to mention the Car Parking how can it be 11p a week.
The spin is what was released by the Council,11p looks good don't tell them the rest they wont like it.So when the Green waste was collected as part of the waste collection and was free will the Council reduce the Council Tax by £40 if people have it collected now or will as I stated will the 11p plus Green waste make band D £45 + per year!
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
now thats spin bacause i'm quite dizzy now.
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
Don't bother Brian.
Simple, Council Tax up by 11p per week from DDC at Band D.
Watty
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
paulw,alass i think i'm in the wrong tax band,will get more info later.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
nobody comes out of this very well, follow my leader voting does not suggest working for the district.
the reds come out worse by abstaining, cannot see the point of that.
paul then says that john voted en bloc which surely means he voted no unless abstaining counts as a vote.
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
# 4.is correct......ignore all the gobbledegook...................
My head is spinning with all the figures , percentages and calculations . I know how Howard feels