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Dear Editor
Sally Howard highlights the problems of local councils such as Nottingham, Birmingham and Woking declaring themselves effectively bankrupt with many more to follow. What is to be done? Isn't it time to take a closer look at the top band for council tax. the H band, which in England is £320, 000. A householder in a house valued at £400, 000 pays the same council tax as their wealthy neighbour living in a luxury mansion valued at £2 million. This can't be right! In the suburbs and historic parts of our great Northern cities there are properties in the multi-million pound bracket. Let's ensure those lucky enough to afford to live in such grand houses make their fair contribution for the good of all in their locality .
Steve Hyer
Competing interests:
No competing interests
19 September 2024
Stephen Hyer
Consultant Endocrinologist
Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
St Helier Hospital, Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 1AA
Dear Editor
There is not one mention of the main costs of local authorities. As in the NHS one of the main costs is people. How efficient are they? Are they ‘working’ from home? Not asking such questions is not a fair way to further burden tax payers and those paying Community charges.
Re: Bankrupt local authorities heap pressure on primary care, say GPs
Dear Editor
Sally Howard highlights the problems of local councils such as Nottingham, Birmingham and Woking declaring themselves effectively bankrupt with many more to follow. What is to be done? Isn't it time to take a closer look at the top band for council tax. the H band, which in England is £320, 000. A householder in a house valued at £400, 000 pays the same council tax as their wealthy neighbour living in a luxury mansion valued at £2 million. This can't be right! In the suburbs and historic parts of our great Northern cities there are properties in the multi-million pound bracket. Let's ensure those lucky enough to afford to live in such grand houses make their fair contribution for the good of all in their locality .
Steve Hyer
Competing interests: No competing interests