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This from Donella East, West Wight. Ed
How lucky we are that the government and the council are thinking of us poor folk. £150 is most welcome to have as a rebate from our council tax in these straightened times.
So it was with a light heart that I picked up my council tax bill from the doormat and opened it to find the slip of paper explaining this to me about how generous the government has been by giving 20 million households a rebate of £150 from their council tax bill for the year. And it will not have to be repaid. Lucky me, I do come within the band that is eligible.
£80 bill increase
I then unfolded the demand. My bill had risen almost £80 for the year. My rebate has been more than halved in one fell swoop.
The council tax bills here on the Island are big enough as it is without such a huge 4 per cent percent added.
Compared to our neighbours
Did you know, the council tax for the same band (D) in Portsmouth is £1,882.35, Havant £1,862, Southampton only pay £1,458.08, while in the beautiful and very expensive New Forest areas they will pay £1,987.99.
My council tax bill for a small two and a half bedroom bungalow in a cul de sac is a staggering £2,160.08.
- Do we have better infrastructure?
- Do we get less building on green sites?
- Do we have more services available to us?
- Do we have better hospitals, surgeries, dentists, schools and local facilities?
I shall be asking the council why, but if anyone else has an answer I would like to hear it.
