Today the TPA has submitted its response to the consultation being undertaken by HMRC into improving tax transparency. You can read our submission in its entirety below, but our main message is that there needs to be far more transparency and honesty about how much of our income is taken... Read more...
After recent successful actions days in Bath and Bristol, calling for lower chief executive pay, I was contacted by a supporter from West Sussex. He told me Chichester District Council currently has a vacancy for its chief executive. In 2009/10, its chief executive earned a basic salary of £119, 198.... Read more...
As part of a nationwide campaign against planned Council Tax rises we are highlighting research and official statistics to put the proposed increases in context and suggest some areas where savings could be made instead. Many households are struggling with the rising cost of living yet are finding out that... Read more...
Today the TaxPayers’ Alliance announces the latest recipients of its monthly awards to celebrate those in power who have sought to save – and waste – taxpayers’ money. The man, woman or organisation to be congratulated for saving public money or acting in the interests of the hard-pressed taxpayer is... Read more...
Last year I commented regularly on the amount of improvement managers and officers Oxford City Council was advertising for. The council has previously advertised for a Business Improvement Manager, a Performance Improvement Manager and a Business Improvement Manager (both twice), and a Business Improvement Partner. It is now advertising for... Read more...
Fearless Somerset taxpayer Niall Connolly has conducted a campaign of criticism against Somerton Town Council—and now he’s been proved right. The Audit Commission’s recently published report accuses the council of ‘unlawful expenditure’ and ‘abuse of Public funds’. The report investigated Somerton Town Council's sale of public land at Etsome Terrace,... Read more...
Sheffield City Council has found a new way of raising revenue, and as usual it is hard pressed council taxpayers who will have to dig deeper into their pockets. Although the council is planning to accept the government's offer of a grant and intends to freeze council tax for the... Read more...
Despite torrential rain in other parts of the Yorkshire Dales, the sun shone brightly (and a cold wind blew very strongly) for TPA supporters in Richmond who were out collecting signatures for our petition calling on Richmondshire District Council to freeze council tax for the next financial year. The event... Read more...
St. Edmundsbury Borough and Forest Heath District councils have joined that innovative (and growing) group of local authorities who share chief executives. Yesterday they replaced two senior managers on £127,621 and £100,200 with just one, Ian Gallin, on a salary of £105,000. When other general employment costs are taken into... Read more...
Another week, another highly-paid public sector worker returns to work after supposedly retiring with a massive pension payout. John Geates, a police chief, has resumed his role as Director of the Scottish Police College in Fife just 24 hours after leaving with a £300,000 lump sum. Mr Geates (aged 49)... Read more...
UPDATED 28/02/2012 A number of councils in England have announced that they will hike Council Tax at a time when many residents are struggling with the rising cost of living. So far 30 33 35 local authorities are choosing to reject an offer of extra money to help fund a freeze... Read more...
Richmondshire District Council is planning a 3% rise in council tax, not only for 2012/13, but for subsequent years too. This Saturday, TPA supporters will be meeting in Richmond, North Yorkshire, to collect signatures for our petition calling on councillors to reject an increase. We will be meeting at the... Read more...
It was revealed this week that Whitehall bureaucrats received over £22.8 million in bonuses in the last year. In a further indication that the public sector pay freeze is not being taken seriously enough, the Civil Service continues to pay out huge ‘performance-related’ extras to its staff. While hard-pressed taxpayers... Read more...
IT firm Southwest One has already been the subject of one my earlier blogs when it was revealed that their automated computer programme had sent out duplicate payments totalling £4.6 million. Now, the leader of Somerset County Council (SCC) has launched a blistering attack on its failure to save taxpayers’... Read more...
Stop Funding Argentina raised at PMQs [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5jmK8JqWks&w=560]Let Them Eat Carbon quoted by Chris Heaton-Harris in the House of Commons [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxHJfeyVbf8&w=560]Trade union funding research discussed in Parliament [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEEHE9Y2msQ&w=560]Taxpayer funding of trade unions to be stopped [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZKRwLGl-Rg&w=560]Motoring Taxes report raised at PMQs [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQdqeyK5r4U&w=560]Abolish National Insurance report raised in Parliament [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5JfENBqQiY&w=560]Taxpayer funding of... Read more...
Selected media coverage from the TPA's spokesmen (playlist) [iframe http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLB9C3C870283B9224&hl=en_GB 560 315] Read more...
In the first of three posts looking at East Kent councils, TPA supporter Ian Taylor examines the vexed issue of parking charges. As we learn more about the financial intentions of our local district councils, it is becoming apparent that residents of East Kent face a taxing time. Here I... Read more...
Camden Council is looking for four (3 full time, 1 part time) Outcomes and Development Officers. Here's part of the job description:We are seeking dynamic and motivated individuals to take up the roles of Outcomes and Development Officers within our Communities and Third Sector team. These roles will be integral... Read more...
Local authorities are currently finalising their budgets for next year. They are doing so with a Government offer of funds to freeze Council Tax for 2012-13. Disappointingly, many have already signalled their intentions to reject the offer and increase it. We’ll be highlighting ways for these councils to reduce their... Read more...
Recently the Online Journalism blog produced two graphs - one we produced for the Guido Fawkes blog and another produced by the IFS - with one suggesting that increasing the personal allowance was progressive - benefiting those on low incomes most - and another that it was regressive - benefiting... Read more...
Last week I blogged about the true extent to which council tax payers in Peterborough are funding Rona Hendry and Mark Burn, the two full-time UNISON activists at the city’s council. Between them, the duo – who are Secretary and Assistant Secretary respectively of the UNISON branch – are costing... Read more...
Today we have exposed an incredible waste of taxpayers' money at the heart of Parliament. A response to a Freedom of Information request that we submitted reveals the huge sum of money spent on the upkeep of plants and trees on the Parliamentary estate. Astonishingly, a handful of trees are... Read more...
Last year, a petition with 2200 signatures was presented to Bexley Borough Council demanding salaries be capped at £100,000. Under council rules, any petition that attracts 2000 or more signatures automatically triggers a debate at a full council meeting. Although residents in all parts of the borough wanted this issue... Read more...
European Parliament and Hotel Mondo Leopold, Brussels, 20th - 21st March 2012AgendaTuesday 20th March Dinner: Welcome dinner, restaurant tbc Hotel: Rooms have been reserved in the Hotel Mondo Leopold (next to the parliament)Wednesday 21st March Conference sessions to be held in the European Parliament (kindly sponsored by Dan Hannan MEP)... Read more...