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Reform UK raising Council Tax in Kent
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Reform UK set to hike council tax in Kent after claims its cost-cutting drive has failed
Kent County Council is one of ten in the country led by Nigel Farage's party but efforts to save cash under the 'DOGE' style method are said to have been unsuccessful.
Reform's cabinet member for adult social care on Kent County Council Diane Morton claimed services in the area were already "down to the bare bones."
….so, is this going to be a familiar story? Reform over trumpeting ‘huge’ cost savings to be made, and the reality being somewhat different after 14 years of Tory austerity?
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"A quick google tells me 88% of councils increased council tax by the maximum % permitted. 6 were allowed to increase above that threshold 4 labour run councils and 2 lib-dem."
Exactly.
Much of it is due to waste and inefficiency.
Much more is due to the ridiculously generous pensions given to the staff.
Also, things that should be centrally funded such as social care are foisted on the council. |
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100% premium on council tax for holiday let’s irrespective of occupancy
£3,100.56 a year for a one bedroom band A airbnb (£10 a night).
£3617.34 a year for two bedroom unit
Pro business Tory policy. |
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"A quick google tells me 88% of councils increased council tax by the maximum % permitted. 6 were allowed to increase above that threshold 4 labour run councils and 2 lib-dem.
Exactly.
Much of it is due to waste and inefficiency.
Much more is due to the ridiculously generous pensions given to the staff.
Also, things that should be centrally funded such as social care are foisted on the council."
Here in Plymouth the council spent council tax money illegally felling 96 city centre trees, to make way for the city centre street makeover, which so far is 300% over budget. |
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"Reform UK set to hike council tax in Kent after claims its cost-cutting drive has failed
"
Add today’s news that South East Water amongst others who will add 3% on average to water bills, on top of the 24% increase previously allowed. |
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By (user no longer on site) 30 weeks ago
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"A quick google tells me 88% of councils increased council tax by the maximum % permitted. 6 were allowed to increase above that threshold 4 labour run councils and 2 lib-dem."
That data is correct. Most councils are raising tax by the maximum permitted because local government is facing massive budget shortfalls due to rising costs and the legal requirement to fund social care.
The difference is that those other councils are not boasting that they are a 'shop window' for a national movement that promised to show how easy it is to cut costs and avoid tax hikes.
Other councils are raising tax out of necessity and admitting they have little choice. Reform UK ran on an ideological platform claiming taxes were high due to simple waste they could easily abolish.
The Kent situation is a direct refutation of Reform's core claim that they possess unique, common-sense solutions to government spending. Their failure is that their ideology collapsed when faced with the facts of running a local authority. |
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By *otMe66Man 30 weeks ago
Terra Firma |
"A quick google tells me 88% of councils increased council tax by the maximum % permitted. 6 were allowed to increase above that threshold 4 labour run councils and 2 lib-dem.
That data is correct. Most councils are raising tax by the maximum permitted because local government is facing massive budget shortfalls due to rising costs and the legal requirement to fund social care.
The difference is that those other councils are not boasting that they are a 'shop window' for a national movement that promised to show how easy it is to cut costs and avoid tax hikes.
Other councils are raising tax out of necessity and admitting they have little choice. Reform UK ran on an ideological platform claiming taxes were high due to simple waste they could easily abolish.
The Kent situation is a direct refutation of Reform's core claim that they possess unique, common-sense solutions to government spending. Their failure is that their ideology collapsed when faced with the facts of running a local authority."
Interesting.. how would you say they have failed on the common sense approach, what could they have done differently to have prevented that. |
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"
Interesting.. how would you say they have failed on the common sense approach, what could they have done differently to have prevented that."
I would suggest they shouldn’t be so bombastic and eager to trumpet potential cost savings before they have ascertained such cost savings exist. But we know why they don’t, because as an electoral tactic, ‘we will cut costs’ is a vote winner & more easily palatable than tax rises/maintaining current tax levels in return for poorer services.
It’s the same with the right wing & all public services tbh - ‘saving lots of money on needless waste’ is seen as the panacea to all problems.
Is there an argument along the lines of public services should be run along the lines of the private sector? Yes, but let’s not over egg the pudding & make outlandish claims it is the solution to all current problems. |
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By (user no longer on site) 30 weeks ago
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"A quick google tells me 88% of councils increased council tax by the maximum % permitted. 6 were allowed to increase above that threshold 4 labour run councils and 2 lib-dem.
That data is correct. Most councils are raising tax by the maximum permitted because local government is facing massive budget shortfalls due to rising costs and the legal requirement to fund social care.
The difference is that those other councils are not boasting that they are a 'shop window' for a national movement that promised to show how easy it is to cut costs and avoid tax hikes.
Other councils are raising tax out of necessity and admitting they have little choice. Reform UK ran on an ideological platform claiming taxes were high due to simple waste they could easily abolish.
The Kent situation is a direct refutation of Reform's core claim that they possess unique, common-sense solutions to government spending. Their failure is that their ideology collapsed when faced with the facts of running a local authority.
Interesting.. how would you say they have failed on the common sense approach, what could they have done differently to have prevented that."
Common sense dictates that when you make explicit promises to cut waste and not raise taxes, and then you immediately raise taxes by the maximum legal amount, you have failed in your plan. |
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By *otMe66Man 30 weeks ago
Terra Firma |
"A quick google tells me 88% of councils increased council tax by the maximum % permitted. 6 were allowed to increase above that threshold 4 labour run councils and 2 lib-dem.
That data is correct. Most councils are raising tax by the maximum permitted because local government is facing massive budget shortfalls due to rising costs and the legal requirement to fund social care.
The difference is that those other councils are not boasting that they are a 'shop window' for a national movement that promised to show how easy it is to cut costs and avoid tax hikes.
Other councils are raising tax out of necessity and admitting they have little choice. Reform UK ran on an ideological platform claiming taxes were high due to simple waste they could easily abolish.
The Kent situation is a direct refutation of Reform's core claim that they possess unique, common-sense solutions to government spending. Their failure is that their ideology collapsed when faced with the facts of running a local authority.
Interesting.. how would you say they have failed on the common sense approach, what could they have done differently to have prevented that.
Common sense dictates that when you make explicit promises to cut waste and not raise taxes, and then you immediately raise taxes by the maximum legal amount, you have failed in your plan."
What do you think they should have specifically done differently, knowing they had legal obligations and contracts they inherited? |
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By *otMe66Man 30 weeks ago
Terra Firma |
"
Interesting.. how would you say they have failed on the common sense approach, what could they have done differently to have prevented that.
I would suggest they shouldn’t be so bombastic and eager to trumpet potential cost savings before they have ascertained such cost savings exist. But we know why they don’t, because as an electoral tactic, ‘we will cut costs’ is a vote winner & more easily palatable than tax rises/maintaining current tax levels in return for poorer services.
It’s the same with the right wing & all public services tbh - ‘saving lots of money on needless waste’ is seen as the panacea to all problems.
Is there an argument along the lines of public services should be run along the lines of the private sector? Yes, but let’s not over egg the pudding & make outlandish claims it is the solution to all current problems."
There always seems to be an uphill battle to improve the services provided. Cracking that nut would help. |
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The cost savings are not going to be found in individual line items on a council budget. They have already all been cut to the bone. And then cut some more.
The cost savings are going to come from the large programme mentality in central government. I have seen huge amounts squandered on central government programmes because there is an endemic risk aversion culture.
You want to spend £100 to save the risk of losing £5? Go ahead. Want to get in massive amounts of external consultants so that you can justify spending multiple £100m on a software platform that should have cost less than £10m? Go ahead.
I genuinely don’t think the risk averse culture of the central civil service can be changed but that is where the money is going. |
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By (user no longer on site) 30 weeks ago
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"What do you think they should have specifically done differently, knowing they had legal obligations and contracts they inherited?"
Their failure wasn't in the arithmetic; it was in the **political premise** they campaigned on.
Knowing they inherited a massive financial deficit and legal obligations, the responsible path was to **admit the scale of the problem** and **manage public expectations** from day one.
Instead, they wasted time on symbolic efforts like the 'Doge' unit, which chased costs the council doesn't pay (like asylum seeker funding) or created **false economies** (like cutting energy-efficiency programs that increase long-term costs).
They should have lobbied the central government for fair funding, which is the root cause of the crisis, instead of pretending simple 'common sense' could fix a decade of underfunding. They promised a cure but then delivered the same maximum tax hike as everyone else. |
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By *otMe66Man 30 weeks ago
Terra Firma |
"What do you think they should have specifically done differently, knowing they had legal obligations and contracts they inherited?
Their failure wasn't in the arithmetic; it was in the **political premise** they campaigned on.
Knowing they inherited a massive financial deficit and legal obligations, the responsible path was to **admit the scale of the problem** and **manage public expectations** from day one.
Instead, they wasted time on symbolic efforts like the 'Doge' unit, which chased costs the council doesn't pay (like asylum seeker funding) or created **false economies** (like cutting energy-efficiency programs that increase long-term costs).
They should have lobbied the central government for fair funding, which is the root cause of the crisis, instead of pretending simple 'common sense' could fix a decade of underfunding. They promised a cure but then delivered the same maximum tax hike as everyone else."
This doesn't make sense. Aren't they doing what you are advocating..
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By *abioMan 30 weeks ago
Newcastle and Gateshead |
"Reform UK set to hike council tax in Kent after claims its cost-cutting drive has failed
Kent County Council is one of ten in the country led by Nigel Farage's party but efforts to save cash under the 'DOGE' style method are said to have been unsuccessful.
Reform's cabinet member for adult social care on Kent County Council Diane Morton claimed services in the area were already "down to the bare bones."
….so, is this going to be a familiar story? Reform over trumpeting ‘huge’ cost savings to be made, and the reality being somewhat different after 14 years of Tory austerity?
"
I am sorry… is this the “we will not put up council tax in any council we run for 4 years” reform uk….
You mean they are actually find out what it’s like to actually have to back up if you blow hard! Adults huh!!  |
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By *otMe66Man 30 weeks ago
Terra Firma |
"Reform UK set to hike council tax in Kent after claims its cost-cutting drive has failed
Kent County Council is one of ten in the country led by Nigel Farage's party but efforts to save cash under the 'DOGE' style method are said to have been unsuccessful.
Reform's cabinet member for adult social care on Kent County Council Diane Morton claimed services in the area were already "down to the bare bones."
….so, is this going to be a familiar story? Reform over trumpeting ‘huge’ cost savings to be made, and the reality being somewhat different after 14 years of Tory austerity?
I am sorry… is this the “we will not put up council tax in any council we run for 4 years” reform uk….
You mean they are actually find out what it’s like to actually have to back up if you blow hard! Adults huh!! "
Nov 26th might come as a shock... |
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By (user no longer on site) 30 weeks ago
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"This doesn't make sense. Aren't they doing what you are advocating..
"
It is logically unsound to equate my argument with their actions.
I did not advocate for what Reform did. I advocated for:
1. **Honesty:** Admitting from the start that the promised tax cuts were impossible due to the inherited deficit.
2. **Structural Reform:** Focusing on major, long-term efficiency instead of wasting time on high-profile, low-value symbolic cuts.
Reform did the opposite: they promised the impossible and then implemented the maximum tax hike while demonstrating that their entire cost-cutting premise was flawed. They are raising tax *despite* their rhetoric, which is the failure. |
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"A quick google tells me 88% of councils increased council tax by the maximum % permitted. 6 were allowed to increase above that threshold 4 labour run councils and 2 lib-dem.
That data is correct. Most councils are raising tax by the maximum permitted because local government is facing massive budget shortfalls due to rising costs and the legal requirement to fund social care.
The difference is that those other councils are not boasting that they are a 'shop window' for a national movement that promised to show how easy it is to cut costs and avoid tax hikes.
Other councils are raising tax out of necessity and admitting they have little choice. Reform UK ran on an ideological platform claiming taxes were high due to simple waste they could easily abolish.
The Kent situation is a direct refutation of Reform's core claim that they possess unique, common-sense solutions to government spending. Their failure is that their ideology collapsed when faced with the facts of running a local authority."
We get it, you hate Reform and anything that isn't part of your little bubble. Well done. |
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"A quick google tells me 88% of councils increased council tax by the maximum % permitted. 6 were allowed to increase above that threshold 4 labour run councils and 2 lib-dem.
That data is correct. Most councils are raising tax by the maximum permitted because local government is facing massive budget shortfalls due to rising costs and the legal requirement to fund social care.
The difference is that those other councils are not boasting that they are a 'shop window' for a national movement that promised to show how easy it is to cut costs and avoid tax hikes.
Other councils are raising tax out of necessity and admitting they have little choice. Reform UK ran on an ideological platform claiming taxes were high due to simple waste they could easily abolish.
The Kent situation is a direct refutation of Reform's core claim that they possess unique, common-sense solutions to government spending. Their failure is that their ideology collapsed when faced with the facts of running a local authority.
Interesting.. how would you say they have failed on the common sense approach, what could they have done differently to have prevented that.
Common sense dictates that when you make explicit promises to cut waste and not raise taxes, and then you immediately raise taxes by the maximum legal amount, you have failed in your plan.
What do you think they should have specifically done differently, knowing they had legal obligations and contracts they inherited?"
Honesty could have allowed voters to make their decision based on what they could reasonably expect. They followed the frequent ploy of the previous 14 years, including Boris, showing they are cut from the same cloth. |
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By *abioMan 30 weeks ago
Newcastle and Gateshead |
"We get it, you hate Reform and anything that isn't part of your little bubble. Well done."
Reform specifically promised in the local council manifesto that they would not increase council tax in any council they won for the entirety of that period….. and that would be done by cutting wasteful spending
So now they found out what adults know… the money tree… doesn’t exist!
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By *otMe66Man 30 weeks ago
Terra Firma |
"This doesn't make sense. Aren't they doing what you are advocating..
It is logically unsound to equate my argument with their actions.
I did not advocate for what Reform did. I advocated for:
1. **Honesty:** Admitting from the start that the promised tax cuts were impossible due to the inherited deficit.
2. **Structural Reform:** Focusing on major, long-term efficiency instead of wasting time on high-profile, low-value symbolic cuts.
Reform did the opposite: they promised the impossible and then implemented the maximum tax hike while demonstrating that their entire cost-cutting premise was flawed. They are raising tax *despite* their rhetoric, which is the failure."
Is this really "your" argument? |
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By (user no longer on site) 30 weeks ago
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"I mean, we really shouldn’t be ignoring that Reform won Kent from the Tories.
Surely if there were savings to be made, they would already have been made then, right?"
If by savings you mean any meat left on the carcass whatsoever, then yes, I would agree. |
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What cracks me up is everyone is acting like the state the country is in has only come about since labour took charge, fact is all labour are doing is icing the cake that the Tories made, reform and the like are just adding to the misery. |
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By *coptoCouple 29 weeks ago
Côte d'Azur & Great Yarmouth |
"... ridiculously generous pensions given to the staff"
Define please: civil servants and teachers CAN retire with a pension well above the state minimum, but only because their schemes oblige deductions from their salaries along the way to fill up the pension pot.
Even the young'uns are realising that without putting aside a hell of a lot of savings, they'll never be like many of today's krinklies with nothing to do but worry about their SERPS and how much inheritance tax will be due on the huge empty house they bought for tuppence years ago. |
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""... ridiculously generous pensions given to the staff"
Define please: civil servants and teachers CAN retire with a pension well above the state minimum, but only because their schemes oblige deductions from their salaries along the way to fill up the pension pot.
Even the young'uns are realising that without putting aside a hell of a lot of savings, they'll never be like many of today's krinklies with nothing to do but worry about their SERPS and how much inheritance tax will be due on the huge empty house they bought for tuppence years ago."
As far as I am aware the employees contribute between 5.5 and 12.5% of their salary to the LGPS and the employer pays the rest of the cost. According to the LGPS website the employer contributions vary but on average they pay 75% of the cost of the scheme.
Ridiculously generous. |
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By *I TwoCouple 28 weeks ago
near enough |
""... ridiculously generous pensions given to the staff"
Define please: civil servants and teachers CAN retire with a pension well above the state minimum, but only because their schemes oblige deductions from their salaries along the way to fill up the pension pot.
Even the young'uns are realising that without putting aside a hell of a lot of savings, they'll never be like many of today's krinklies with nothing to do but worry about their SERPS and how much inheritance tax will be due on the huge empty house they bought for tuppence years ago."
Are we a little jealous of pensioners lol, twopence years ago is probably half a million now and interest rates were double digits.
BTW serps was contributory 😉
Opting out was the sensible option |
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"A quick google tells me 88% of councils increased council tax by the maximum % permitted. 6 were allowed to increase above that threshold 4 labour run councils and 2 lib-dem."
Hmm. It lookslike the Labour party forgot about the Lambeth rate cappers, they helped years ago. |
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"Farage is the political equivalent of an old timey snake oil salesman. "
A lot of companies will thank him when we come out of the ECHR, as the unions will no longer be protected and will be ignored by them. |
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By *uietbloke67Man 27 weeks ago
outside your bedroom window ;-) |
Shock news just in
Reform will tell you anything to get power then become the same as evening else.
Except more racsist and dismantling a health service while being a Russian aggressor enthusiast. |
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"Shock news just in
Reform will tell you anything to get power then become the same as evening else.
Except more racsist and dismantling a health service while being a Russian aggressor enthusiast."
Haha, Mrs x |
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By *abioMan 26 weeks ago
Newcastle and Gateshead |
I did think it was interesting that the one subject party has a undercover major speech on the economy yesterday.. and it’s not been mentioned
Just a prime example of them getting away with not being scrutinised…
So here are some of the major “highlights”
Actually had to admit that UK GDP was in better shape than it would have been because of immigration and immigrants
Planning for major austerity type cuts to public services if they get elected
Proposing massive deregulation of public and nationalised services including the NHS
Claim the benefits of Brexit have not been fully implemented and claim they would have done a better job
Proposing massive tax cuts for the rich to entice the most wealthy to live in the Uk
Lowering the minimum wage rate for “young people “
So… have at any of the proposals above…. Enough Turkeys voted for Xmas last time |
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By (user no longer on site) 26 weeks ago
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"I did think it was interesting that the one subject party has a undercover major speech on the economy yesterday.. and it’s not been mentioned
Just a prime example of them getting away with not being scrutinised…
So here are some of the major “highlights”
Actually had to admit that UK GDP was in better shape than it would have been because of immigration and immigrants
Planning for major austerity type cuts to public services if they get elected
Proposing massive deregulation of public and nationalised services including the NHS
Claim the benefits of Brexit have not been fully implemented and claim they would have done a better job
Proposing massive tax cuts for the rich to entice the most wealthy to live in the Uk
Lowering the minimum wage rate for “young people “
So… have at any of the proposals above…. Enough Turkeys voted for Xmas last time"
What are the odds they’ll be denying they ever said any of that in a week’s time? |
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By *abioMan 26 weeks ago
Newcastle and Gateshead |
I think it’s quite funny that it was his face all over the general election reform uk “contract with the people” for him to now say.. not my policies!
Ooh… I forgot one other bit… refused to commit reform to keeping the “triple lock” for Uk state pension |
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"...and it’s not been mentioned
Just a prime example of them getting away with not being scrutinised…"
Who actually scrutinised joke books for economic wisdom?
This is how they get away with it. Nobody takes them seriously, until the penny drops. A bit like how people laugh off crazy things terrorist groups say, until they get their hands on weapons or power.
"Haha, that's what they say to make headlines or get votes. When they get in power, they'll be reasonable" |
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"
Ooh… I forgot one other bit… refused to commit reform to keeping the “triple lock” for Uk state pension"
Triple lock is wrong.
The triple lock should be anchored to a point in time, with the increase to be the greatest of all three measures since *that point*. Doing it annually eventually leads to grossly overly generous pensions, add rates "leapfrog" and compound. At that point, some future government will need to make the unpopular move of reducing the pension. |
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By (user no longer on site) 26 weeks ago
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And now, as an aside, a village in Kent can't put up it's Christmas lights because Kent council have said that the flags someone has put on the lampposts can't be taken down... |
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By (user no longer on site) 26 weeks ago
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"And now, as an aside, a village in Kent can't put up it's Christmas lights because Kent council have said that the flags someone has put on the lampposts can't be taken down..."
Does this mean Reform have declared war on Christmas?
Quick, someone alert GB News — there’s a festive crisis brewing in Kent. |
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By (user no longer on site) 26 weeks ago
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"And now, as an aside, a village in Kent can't put up it's Christmas lights because Kent council have said that the flags someone has put on the lampposts can't be taken down...
Does this mean Reform have declared war on Christmas?
Quick, someone alert GB News — there’s a festive crisis brewing in Kent."
Looks like they've done a U-turn and said that the flags have to come down. Must have caused a huge ideological dilemma within the Reform ranks. |
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By (user no longer on site) 26 weeks ago
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"And now, as an aside, a village in Kent can't put up it's Christmas lights because Kent council have said that the flags someone has put on the lampposts can't be taken down...
Does this mean Reform have declared war on Christmas?
Quick, someone alert GB News — there’s a festive crisis brewing in Kent.
Looks like they've done a U-turn and said that the flags have to come down. Must have caused a huge ideological dilemma within the Reform ranks."
So now they’re anti-flag?
That’s quite the plot twist — all that talk about defending tradition, and it’s Christmas lights that finally break them. |
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