Take longer to pay council tax

By Emily Pearce

Monday, January 14, 2013

 

COUNCIL taxpayers will be able to pay their bill in 12 monthly instalments rather than the current ten months.

Taxpayers will need to opt into the new system, for the 2013/14 financial year, by notifying the Isle of Wight Council in writing as soon as possible.

"This is something to be welcomed because it gives householders the choice to spread their payments across the year, allowing for better financial management. We would be very keen to give Island residents that opportunity," said council leader Cllr David Pugh.

The plans were included in a series of budget recommendations agreed by the cabinet, due to come before full council next month.

As previously reported, council tax is due to be frozen and further redundancies are likely as the authority looks to plug a £15m hole in its finances over the next two years. The council is looking to save £6m during 2013/14, and £9.4m during the following year, by making further efficiencies and spending cuts.

A final decision on plans to cut council tax benefit and scrap the second home discount is also due to be made by full council. Vulnerable people, including pensioners, disabled people and those with children, will be protected, but thousands of working-age claimants face an 8.5 per cent cut from April, then a 20 per cent cut the following year.

Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk

Comments

Log-in or register to comment on this story.

By ticking "Remember me" you agree to a cookie being stored on your computer - no personal data is shared.

Forgotten your password?

Log-in to Report

by geoffrey clynch

15th January 2013, at 15:28:16

KBJ, again im afraid i have to agree with you

Log-in to Report

by Jake Gully

15th January 2013, at 09:40:45

I like the two month holiday at the end of the year, but its nice to have the choice and will help many to budget better.

Over the last 24 months I have frequently had to chase up late payments from the Council, often not receiving payments for 3 months or more. Mainly due to inefficiencies within the LEA, rather than Council Payments. Withold your Council tax for 3 months and you will have the bayliffs at the door!

Re postponing the County Hall Refurbishment, this work has now already been substantially completed. I can't claim to be unbiased on this one, but the project was run very well and delivered to budget and timescale by largely local contractors.

Log-in to Report

by Kevin Barclay-Jay

15th January 2013, at 00:14:18

I am sickened by this council and its attacks on the most needy in society..but then they are Tories. Each month we read in the CP how the council has 'found' another million pound, made profit fromparking, sold loads of our assets and still have the front to claim they have a £15million pound hole in their budget.

This is not a hole createed by the governement in their pointless drive to plug the deficit...this is a hole created by our own council with its overspend on stupid wages and consultants, pointless consultations and PFI contracts and usless councillors who fail to operate within the law.

They try to hide behind central cuts to cover their own **** ups and we end up paying for it.

This is without doubt the worst council this Island has ever seen...I hope we survive until its removal

Log-in to Report

by Barry Sowerby

14th January 2013, at 19:30:27

I am all for it, but a Postal Address, Email Address or Phone Number would have been usefull in this article

Log-in to Report

by Martin Heath

14th January 2013, at 16:48:17

Tony, are you suggesting the council uses common sense? Dangerous ground indeed.:-)

Log-in to Report

by tony white

14th January 2013, at 16:39:36

If they delay the renovation of the town hall in newport they will immediately save £3.5 million and then do the work in the future when they can afford it

Log-in to Report

by Martin Heath

14th January 2013, at 16:05:07

I appreciate this will be welcomed by a lot of hard pressed people, but I actually like paying in 10 installments.
I budget the amount of 10 monthly payments over all 12 months this then leaves the two 'Free' months to give the household budget a welcome boost..

Any views or opinions presented in the comments above are solely those of the author and do not represent those of the Isle of Wight County Press.

Facebook Icon Twitter Icon Delicious Icon

More News

Most Read

  1. Tributes paid after cliff death

    Wednesday, May 22, 2013

  2. Dredger stuck on sandbank

    Tuesday, May 21, 2013

  3. Desalination plan for the Island

    Tuesday, May 21, 2013

  4. Awards for Isle of Wight beaches

    Wednesday, May 22, 2013

  5. Free school gets government go-ahead

    Wednesday, May 22, 2013