Obstacles to Tourism in Llandudno

[born2run]

The analogy is flawed. When you shop in Asda you're paying for specific items you need and will use. With communities, however, there are many things for which you must pay that you will never use nor want, but to which you must contribute through council tax. This is called democracy.

I've always thought Council Tax was misnamed; it implies you're being taxed simply for choosing to live in a particular area when in fact it's simply a contribution towards the running costs of that community. And it is only a contribution: much of the CCBC finance comes through the RSG and formula grant from central government.

Ian, I rather think my analogy is entirely accurate.
Part of the council tax is a direct payment towards the Parks and Gardening Budget, which I pay in the knowledge that CCBC are now obliged to keep the grass verges relatively tidy.
I do realise that I am also required to contribute to some services that I might never use, but that as you say, is democracy.
I think my old bug-bear the Llandudno Swimming Centre would come into that category for many people.

I simply object to paying for things that I am entitled to, that are then either not provided, or are done to a poor standard.

In a nutshell, the Council Tax bill increases every year, whilst the services delivered for it continually deteriorate.
bear in mind also that there are NUMEROUS Council officials on more than £100,000 per year.   Value for money?

Most of Llandudno swimming pool now closed for the month!! Only the deep end is open as there is problems with the floor

[Ian]

Yes Ian, no problem!

Okay.  It seems you can't see images which are retrieved via our media gallery, but you can see those which are simply posted through the normal method.

[Ian]

   

so the total expenditure by the council is £210m, of which the lowly taxpayers contribute 21.4%.

In reality, of course, the Revenue Support Grant element is paid for by taxpayers (albeit not solely in Conwy County) as well, making our contribution around 80% of expenditure.

But all government expenditure is funded via taxation, so that's a bit of a red herring, Dave, as we're specifically discussing Council Tax and its relevance to cutting Fester's verge. In that sense, the Tax payers' contribution, as opposed to the Council Tax payers' is 100%, especially as the government seems intent on flogging off all the profitable elements of their businesses at knock-down prices to their cronies. 

But where d'you draw the line? There have been cases of people withholding income tax and other taxes in protest at government strategies, such as wars. Or you could simply follow the example of that bastion of fairness, the egregious Thatcher, and move all your taxable assets overseas and out of reach. I've often said that my wife and I are probably keeping the entire armed forces afloat, such is our tax bill, but taxes are an important element of a just society, so we pay up...and look miserable.

[DaveR]

taxes are an important element of a just society,

Can't remember the name of the chap who said "The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation." but he was probably right...

[born2run]

Lenin 

Didn't think Communism was allowed on here though 

[Ian]

 (To Dave)

[Ian]

But a more serious point:  what taxes should be eliminated?

[born2run]

But a more serious point:  what taxes should be eliminated?

Bedroom tax for a start

[DaveR]

But a more serious point:  what taxes should be eliminated?

Bedroom tax for a start

A Tax is defined as 'A compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on workers' income and business profits, or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions'. How does a reduction in a benefit paid qualify?

[Hugo]

But a more serious point:  what taxes should be eliminated?

Bedroom tax for a start

I would tend to agree with that and it typifies the party that introduced a tax on the poorer section of the community.   Revenue has to come from somewhere but it would be interesting to know the comparison between the amount saved by the introduction of the bedroom tax against a tax levied on properties in the UK that are valued over £1 million and also the rebanding  of all the properties in England.
Would the present Government do this?     No chance whatsoever as they wouldn't do anything as it would affect their MP's and their supporters.

[DaveR]

I would tend to agree with that and it typifies the party that introduced a tax on the poorer section of the community.

I'm still hoping that someone can explain to me how it is a tax?

[Hugo]

I would tend to agree with that and it typifies the party that introduced a tax on the poorer section of the community.

I'm still hoping that someone can explain to me how it is a tax?

It isn't a tax as such, it's obviously an attempt at a saving in benefit payouts and has  just been labelled a bedroom tax.  Having said that those savings are at the expense of the poorer members of society and could possibly have be achieved by increasing the tax on £1 million properties and rebanding all other properties in the UK that weren't rebanded when those in Wales were.

[DaveR]

Exactly, the use of the word 'tax' is an attempt to mislead people.

Another question - why is it right that working class people cannot afford to have an extra bedroom but people living on benefits can?

[Hugo]

Exactly, the use of the word 'tax' is an attempt to mislead people.

Another question - why is it right that working class people cannot afford to have an extra bedroom but people living on benefits can?

That's not quite correct as the "bedroom tax" only applies to people who don't own their own property and those tenants are from working class people as well as the benefit people.
If you mean that working class people who own their own home cannot afford an extra bedroom because for example they live within their  means then that is another matter completely.
I still think that money could be raised from taxing expensive property and also England should have the houses rebanded just like we had in Wales about 10 years ago but that would be a definite vote loser for the Government in power.

[Fester]

But a more serious point:  what taxes should be eliminated?

Capital Gains Tax on share dealing for one!

If I walk in to a bookies,  bet a fiver and win a tenner.... I get to keep the winnings.
If I purchase shares in a company, and by sheer luck they increase in value,  then I have to pay 28% of the value that I have 'won'

I have never understood how that can be fair.