Abolish Council Tax and Save £200million

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders is calling on the Government to end the unfair and inefficient council tax and help hard pressed families in Torbay.

Figures revealed by the Government show that council tax is approximately 70% more expensive to collect and administer than income tax and is almost four times as costly in bureaucracy than business rates.  In 2007-08, £484million was spent on the administration of council tax, over 2% of the money collected.

Bay MP Mr Sanders has claimed that changing to a local income tax would save the nation at least £200million.  Such a move would also remove the need for council tax benefit, reducing costly bureaucracy further.

Adrian said: “The Government should have a duty to reduce public spending where it can and provide the fairest and most efficient tax system.  It is clear that the public finances are overstretched and the Government should be embracing all opportunities to save money where they won’t have an effect on front line services.”