Save 14,655 of our poorest neighbours from a 67% tax rise

Anti-austerity campaigners have issued the following advice to supporters.

Anti-austerity campaigners have issued the following advice to supporters who do not believe the poorest 14,655 households in Brighton and Hove should have to pay more council tax.

For people who have only a few minutes to fill in the lengthy consultation questionnaire, they advise:

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Choose 'definitely disagree' as the answer to questions 2, 4 and 6;

Do not answer question 7;

Complete the personal questions at the end.

For what they say will be a much bigger impact, they have the notes below to help supporters write their own comments, using their own words. (To have an even greater impact, they urge people to use examples from their own life, or from the experiences of people they know.)

Question 1: Please tell us if you have any feedback on the scheme itself, how it has been operating, and what it has meant for people in the city.

Points to consider including in comments:

It is appropriate that people with less money should pay less council tax than people with more money;

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Before the abolition of Council Tax Benefit, it was acknowledged that people living on benefits were not able to afford to pay council tax. They are now expected to find money for council tax - despite the fact that the amount received in benefits has not risen in line with inflation. This means they are now being asked to make less money go further, in real terms;

People in receipt of working-age benefits cannot afford to pay any council tax and should not be required to do so.

Question 2a: How much do you agree or disagree with the proposal to set the minimum contribution at 25%?

Choose 'definitely disagree'.

Question 3: Is there anything we haven't considered or any further comments you'd like to make about the minimum contribution and the council's proposal to set it at 25%.

Points to consider including in your comments:

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Has the council conducted an equality impact survey to establish the effect of this proposed policy on the lives of children and disabled people living in households on low incomes?

People eligible for council tax reduction are already struggling to make ends meet. These proposals will put an unbearable burden on the poorest people in the city;

One of the council's four corporate priorities is 'tackling inequality'. How can this policy be reconciled with that aim?

Why not borrow £5 million by taking out a loan secured against the council's little-used art collection?

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Why not consider more progressive adjustments to council tax that also increase income for the council? For example, the official rate of council tax could be increased substantially, and then the council could subsidise payments for the majority of residents, so that most people don't actually get an increase, but the wealthiest households do. This would allow the council to collect more council tax, but it would be the wealthiest households whose payments increase, not the poorest.

Why not use reserves to avoid making this cut to Council Tax Reduction?

Trying to raise money from people who have none is not sensible. It will just lead to more and more people being in council tax arrears, which will cost the council money and put huge strain on residents.

Question 4: Do you agree or disagree with the proposal to limit the increase in Council Tax current CTR claimants have to pay to £3.50 per week as a result of the changes in Proposal A?

Choose 'definitely disagree'.

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Question 5: Is there anything we haven't considered or any further comments you'd like to make about the proposal to limit the Council Tax increase as a result of the changes set out in Proposal A to £3.50 per week for current claimants?

Points to consider including in your comments:

Large families should not be unduly penalised. But spending £3.50 extra a week is unaffordable for anyone whose income is low enough to qualify for the Council Tax Reduction scheme;

A better way to minimise the impact on large families would be not to reduce Council Tax Reduction.

Question 6: Do you agree or disagree with the proposal to remove the family premium?

Choose 'definitely disagree'.

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