Sensible reform of our tax system now needed

THE present system of council tax has been a bone of contention for years.

The only reduction in council tax is for single occupancy of a property, which is fair enough.

However, a property occupied by two people (OAPS or not) attracts the same council tax as a property occupied by, say, four working adults.

All other services to the house – gas, electricity, water, telephones, sewerage – are based on usage of those facilities. I have no argument against this apart from, of course, the rate per unit charged. But that’s another matter.

Council Tax charges should be based on the usage of facilities provided by the council.

Rubbish and waste collection are lower for households of two people as opposed to four or five occupants.

Funding for local police and schools should also be based on a per capita rate per household, to ensure there is adequate funding and shared fairly amongst the local population.

No system is the perfect way without upsetting somebody, but sensible reform to ensure a fairer level playing field so that those who use any local facilities pay their fair share for the use thereof.

Of course, we had such a “fairer” system introduced some years ago.

Some called it a poll tax, which would have righted today’s wrongs in fairer council tax subscriptions but, despite its bad reception by so many at the time, perhaps it was a fairer way to fund the facilities enjoyed and paid for by those who used them, and not just according to the ‘band’ of the property value you happen to live in, regardless of income or ability to pay.

Edward Kynaston Lydney