Just received this year's council tax bill and surprisingly, it's less than last years. Ah, I see - we've been given this £150 "cost of living" award. Without it, we would be paying about £90 more this year.
In Aberdeenshire at least, we only pay a combined bill for council tax, water and sewerage. I'd have to look and see where the increases are.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
Our binmen went on strike and got a 7.2% payrise backdated to October. 7.2%. Guess who'll be paying that? The people who didn't even get a cost of living payrise……..
Quote: Originally posted by Mitchamitri on 11/3/2022
Our binmen went on strike and got a 7.2% payrise backdated to October. 7.2%. Guess who'll be paying that? The people who didn't even get a cost of living payrise……..
If you look at the real cost of living though, that 7.2% pay rise is really quite a big pay cut. Gas and electricity going up by 50%, and most other essentials rising by double-figure percentages. Then again though it does beat my measly 3.1% pension increase, which will be swallowed at least 4 times over by the increase in my energy bill alone. That's without all the other increases like food and the cost of running my car.
Quote: Originally posted by Capt Lightning on 11/3/2022
Just received this year's council tax bill and surprisingly, it's less than last years. Ah, I see - we've been given this £150 "cost of living" award. Without it, we would be paying about £90 more this year.
In Aberdeenshire at least, we only pay a combined bill for council tax, water and sewerage. I'd have to look and see where the increases are.
Would it be worth getting a meter to cover the water side of things? Ours literally cut our bills in half.
Quote: Originally posted by Mitchamitri on 11/3/2022
Our binmen went on strike and got a 7.2% payrise backdated to October. 7.2%. Guess who'll be paying that? The people who didn't even get a cost of living payrise……..
Hmm, I don't live in Wiltshire so was not aware of this, but a few minutes spent on the internet suggests that your post does not tell the full story.
The original offer from the employer was a derisory 1.2%. The unions involved have negotiated a pay rise of 7.1% over two years, which equates to less than 3.5% per annum year on year and still below current/anticipated rates of inflation.
I've not seen any information on previous pay settlements (if any), perhaps you can provide the details?
As to who pays, the employer of course, i.e. Hills Municipal ( the waste disposal company contracted to Wiltshire Council). So the shareholders dividends, directors bonuses may fall or, more likely, the workforce will pay though measures to "improve efficiency". If it trickles through
to Council Tax Payers than that will be the fault of those who negotiated the original contract on behalf of the Council.
Worth noting that 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 of the crew on a bin wagon will be an HGV driver, a shortage of which in other sectors has had an effect on pay levels.
------------- Never argue with fools........They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
The "water" charge in Scotland is a fixed charge to cover the infrastructure. The actual water usage isn't metered in domestic premises.
If you have ever visited Scotland you'll probably have noticed that water is one thing we don't have a shortage of........it gets topped up on an almost daily basis !!!
What seems to be happening round here is that the council tax hasn’t changed a lot but the good old days of everything being included are long gone. For example, we got a letter this week to inform us that if we want our green bin collected it will be an extra £40 a year. Luckily there is a tip a very short drive away as my husband refuses on principle to pay the £40 so it is going to be back and forward to the tip a lot for me this year! I’m just waiting to hear what else they will want to charge extra for!
Green bin being garden waste, I take it? It's a brown bin in Wirral and I've been paying for collection since it started, as I have quite a 'busy' garden and I'd rather pay than load up the car. Annoying, but not as annoying (for me,anyway) as having spiders abseiling down from the sun visor when you're on the road, slug trails in the boot etc.
------------- Always edited for sloppy typing - when I spot it!
Our council started charging for garden waste last year so now it goes in our trailer to the tip. I also refuse to pay it on principle. Only thing is that our local tips require you to have a permit for a trailer, 12 visits a year, but at least that's free. We never use all 12 anyway.
Our council has frozen the rate apart from a 1% increase for social care.
I think we may get the £150 rebate too.
We will see when the bill arrives.
We have a green bin for garden waste and can take stuff to the tip. You need permits for trailers or pickups etc.
My mate could not take stuff in his Land Rover Defender 90 as it was van type. Not used for business.
I had a S3 SWB station wagon which was allowed!
We had a water meter fitted a while ago and saved a lot. My neighbour is paying £54 a month for water rates. Same as us 2 adults, not using a lot of water. My bill is just over half his.
He was going to call Severn Trent and get a meter sorted!
Post last edited on 12/03/2022 14:51:33
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Just checked my bill. Water £196 p.a. (no metering here) and Sewerage £228 p.a.
We've never had green waste or glass collections. We compost as much garden waste as possible, and have bottle banks in the village. We put anything else in trugs and make the odd trip to the tip as necessary.
Pain in the butt having to book a slot at the tip, but it's free, the staff are helpful and often, we're the only ones there.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
Haven’t had our Scottish council tax information yet. We have excellent comprehensive free recycling including food waste, but many of our libraries are to close. They’re the only place where people can access computers who don’t have them at home, they’re always well used by schoolchildren studying quietly, there are regular workshops & exhibitions. But we can’t have everything & something has to “give”.
We have had a water meter here ever since we moved in. Cost isn't too bad. We are quite well served for waste tips as there are two within a 2 mile radius of here and no booking necessary now. I think there may have been for a while when lockdown ended but we didn't need to go then anyway. We just have 2 wheelie bins now and a box for papers. One bin for general rubbish and one for recycling (glass, tins, and cardboard). Collections for each are two-weekly alternating. Luckily 3 of the nearby towns still have their libraries, and so does the 4th but that is in a different county.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Council tax
via mobile 12/3/2022 at 2:44pm
