More business rates cash to 'free councils

[LeftishBrit]

http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=15597

'Better off local authorities in England will no longer have to hand over to poorer councils money that comes in from business rates under changes to local government funding that the government is expected to unveil shortly.

The announcement will say that when up to 30 per cent of local authorities turn into so-called "free councils" by 2015 – that is they will be independent of central government funding – richer areas won't be obliged to give some of their business rate income to Whitehall where it is then passed on to other councils that don't benefit from such revenue. At the same time, councils will also be able to keep most of their council tax revenue....

etc.

Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles wrote back: "The government fully appreciates the problems caused by the reform of empty property rates. However its ability to take action on this matter will need to be balanced against the overriding need to reduce public expenditure and support the economy generally by reducing the deficit. The government keeping the current empty property relief scheme under review."


I wish Pickles would pick a peck of pickled peppers, and stop trying to destroy people living in poorer areas!

Sometimes I think he's Shirley Porter in disguise.

[non sociopath skin]

1. Robbing the poor to pay the rich clearly as much a theme of the Tory government ....

... as it is of their sister party in the States.

http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news//tm_headline=housing-cash-for-north-east-will-head-south%26method=full%26objectid=28224741%26siteid=61634-name_page.html

And, clearly, Bradford Council's Worst Leader Ever has a serious axe to grind over the inconvenience of having had to drag his carpet bag down South in order to get elected to parliament.

The Skin