Council let you down? You may get a tax refund

Jan 22 2008 by Neil Atkinson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HOUSEHOLDERS in Huddersfield could get part of their council tax back – if Kirklees Council fails to deliver the goods.

Taxpayers could be awarded a refund on their council tax if local authorities fail to deliver promised services under plans announced today.

And Kirklees has been chosen as one of the 12 pilot areas for the scheme.

Residents are to be given the chance to obtain written guarantees from town halls that they will tackle specific issues like drug dealing, dirty streets or graffiti.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said today that the so-called “community contracts” could in future be backed up by forms of redress, including financial compensation.

The idea raises the prospect of council tax rebates in cases where services fall short, although any cash payments are likely to be limited to a small minority of serious failures.

Methods of redress under consideration for less significant breaches include public meetings of investigation or a right to a written response.

Kirklees has been rated as one of the best-performing councils in the country in recent years.

In a speech to the New Local Government Network later today, Ms Blears will say: “Those who really believe in delivering for the people they serve should also have the confidence to commit to some form of redress if those agreements are broken.

“People rightly expect a good standard of service and redress when things go wrong. When trains are delayed they know they are entitled to refunds or compensation.

“Improving transparency for other public services on a similar scale will not only improve standards but will also increase confidence in local democracy.”

Ms Blears will add: “There isn’t a single service or development in Britain which hasn’t been improved by actively involving local people who are best placed to spot problems and come up with ideas to solve them, whether its tackling anti-social behaviour or litter, or providing more services at a time people want them.

“Charters or so-called ‘community contracts’ will help councils, police and health authorities and local people to work together in tackling the issues that matter, improving their local neighbourhoods and improve public satisfaction.”

The first 12 pilots of the “community contracts” scheme will be conducted in Sunderland, Gateshead, Barnsley, Oldham, Lewisham, King’s Lynn, Blyth, Kirklees, Brighton, Manton, Kidderminster and London’s South Bank.