Fears of tax hike for rural residents

Warning parish facilities ‘could be lost’

Rural residents are having their “pockets picked” due to an unfair council tax system. That’s the view of Nailbourne representative Cllr Mike Sole, who fears parish precepts are set to rocket further. Villagers living in Band D properties are already paying up to £81 more a year in council tax than residents of Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay. Parish councils ask for the extra cash in order to fund the upkeep of bus shelters, recreational grounds, closed burial grounds and cemeteries. But for people living in the city or towns, such services are already covered by their council tax bill.

“We’re having to pay for services that those in the towns and city get for free,” Cllr Sole said. “This is an unfair system of double taxation.

“It is a disgrace that this omnishambles of an administration is picking the pockets of rural residents.”

Since 2017, the city council has set an annual budget of £134,500 to reimburse a percentage of the money parishes spend.

But the authority is considering axing the subsidy as it looks to make £5m of savings by 2024. . Cllr Sole warns this could see residents paying significantly more each year, as there is no cap on parish precepts. “This is as much £11,000 or £12,000 to some parish councils,” the Liberal Democrat explained. “If you divide that up by the number of residents you could see each of them pay a lot more money for the same service. “Why should those in parishes have to pay more to have their recreation grounds maintained than those in the towns and city?”

Herne and Broomfield parish councillor Carol Davis believes smaller villages would be squeezed most. She fears there “could well be a loss of facilities throughout the district”. City council spokesman Rob Davies said: “Our total funding for parishes has increased from £160,000 to £179,000 over the last seven years and it remains at £179,000 for the 2020/21 financial year.

“A review of parish funding in general will kick off with a consultation on March 26 and we’ll be interested to hear what the parishes have to say.”

The rural forum will decide whether to go ahead with the consultation on Monday. The highest precept stands at £81.24 in Chartham; compared to £27.60 in Hackington, the lowest-charging parish.

‘Why should those in parishes have to pay more than those in the towns and city?’

Nailbourne councillor Mike Sole