Sounfair!Halfmypension increasetogooncounciltax

“I’ve done enough of being a man in a suit shouting at other men in suits. I want to do something different, with a big wig. I want to get dressed up” I, LIKE many others, received my council tax bill along with the recent notification from the DWP of the State Pension increase.

The rise in the tax bill will swallow up approximately 50% of the pension increase.

In contrast to Kirklees, East Hampshire District Council plans to cut its bill by 2.6% this year after a reduction of 2% last year.

Ferris Couper from the council is quoted as saying: “Why is it that the public sector feels it has to have handouts from the Government?

“Why does the public sector feel it has to levy a tax on people?

“Why can’t it work out ways in which public services can be wholly or part funded from other sources of income?”

He adds that East Hampshire could scrap council tax altogether by 2021.

East Hampshire is run for the benefit of its people and tax payers whereas Kirklees is run for ideology and dogma with no consideration as to how, or who, picks up the tab.

I pay my council tax for services; not to fund trade union activities to the tune of £550,000 (just £30,000 in neighbouring Calderdale), or £450,000 for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT), or an estimated 28% to fund pensions.

I suggest Kirklees councillors have lessons from Mr Couper on how to run a council, but may be that would be asking too much.

So here are a few ideas of my own:

Scrap the £550,000 for trade union business and the £450,000 for LGBT.

All remaining schools to be turned into academies funded by central government.

Privatise highways maintenance, parks and crematoria, housing maintenance, waste and recycle collection, building services, leisure and culture services, environmental health and any other service that can be done by the private sector.