Hyndburn Council Tax; Most Expensive or Not?
Labour leaflets and Councillor Graham Jones have been banging the drum calling Hyndburn the ‘most expensive council in the country’. I delved into the claims, as I dislike unnecessary taxation. The main argument is based on a January 2007 article in the Telegraph that quotes Hyndburn council tax of being 8.1% of peoples income, the highest in the list.
I looked into the figures and as you can see from the link, it is based on peoples average income (£17,842) and the Band D rate of council tax (£1,439). At first glance it appears our council tax is excessively high in comparison with others.
It then dawned on me that they had compared it with band D housing and I thought, not many people actually have houses in band D. I looked at the figures and they confirmed it, 72% of people in Hyndburn live in band A and B properties, while 7% live in band D. Therefore you cannot compare expensive band D council tax with the average wage, because the average wage is low as the majority of people live in band A and B properties.
It is quite wrong to use the ‘most expensive council’ phrase as it completely misrepresents reality. I do believe it’s wrong to try and take the electorate for a ride simply because politicians know they won’t look any further than the headlines.
Whether the Labour group put it in the leaflets on purpose, or whether they simply don’t understand the figures, I suppose we’ll never know. Whichever one is the case I think it can only be a good thing that the Conservatives increased their majority on the council, because I don’t want a council that A) Misleads the citizens or B) have no idea what they’re doing.
12 Responses to “Hyndburn Council Tax; Most Expensive or Not?”
Leave a Reply
Mike Harmon on May 4th, 2008
I came across your blog on Technorati. Nice site layout. I will stop by and read more soon.
Mike Harmon
acrylic bob on May 24th, 2008
Excellent. Good show. But bear in mind that the current administration are not without their faults too and while Labour have Cllr Jones to hobble their aspirations the Conservatives must struggle on with Cllr Britcliffe at the helm – That man is more of a dangerous liability than Gordon Brown!
Graham Jones on May 25th, 2008
Andrew is passionate about his views and is Conservative Party loyalist through and through. The Labour Party leaflets were totally honest repeating what had been printed in the Lancashire Telegraph and Daily Telegraph. All three may have took an angle on the stats, but were not misleading or inaccurate. The fact that this is the local Tories biggest gripe shows Labour Councillors in Hyndburn to be honest and up front.
More concerning was the surprise news delivered through every letterbox by Conservatives (including Andrew) to Labour Councillors, that they were going to introduce Car Parking Charges and Rubbish Taxes (£300 a year we were supposed to be charging).
Neither had ever been discussed by Labour Councillors and it seems amazing that you read about your own policies on Conservative leaflets first.
Sadly Andrew’s colleagues had not done their homework. The Council has not applied to run a system and all it’s systems are incapable of both collating data and sharing it. From the broken and inadequate readers on the bin wagons, to the antiquated data processing software, to the lack of any function or capacity to deliver that info to the Council Tax system.
Good luck to Andrew. There is a place for Zealots and revolutionaries, just not at the top table.
Andrew on May 25th, 2008
The Labour Party leaflets might have been ‘totally honest’ in that they reference a newspaper article that cites the correct figures, however they completely misrepresented the borough of Hyndburn when you look at how the figures were constructed. So yes, they were misleading. Graham and the Labour Group ignores this issue every time it is mentioned. It’s blatantly obvious that it has been used for political gain because they know the electorate won’t go and research the figures themselves.
I would like to know which Labour councillors I delivered leaflets to that had anything to do with car parking charges because it is simply not true. It appears you have not done your homework either. Please get back to me on this.
I am happy to meet up and discuss the figures for council tax with you Graham. I could explain why the Labour leaflets were wrong when they said that we had the most expensive council tax in the country in perhaps more detail.
graham jones on May 29th, 2008
So the Labour leaflets did tell the truth (republish previous facts) – just you didn’t like it.
Did you take it up with The Daily Telegraph or Lancashire Telegraph or just the Labour Party? Seems everyone else is wrong Andrew and you’re right?
As for unfair, why? Pendle, Hyndburn, Blackburn, Burnley all have a similar profile so comparing just Band D (your criticism) doesn’t hold up in like for like cases.
You were out you admitted in Barnfield canvassing. Did you apologise for the content of your leaflets? To say you canvassed but never saw a leaflet, you must think we are all daft. What did you campaign on then, something completely different.
Car Parking Charges, Rubbish Taxes.. where is the apology.
‘Never trust a Tory’. A phrase which has stood the test of time. They don’t say it about Labour, I wonder why?
Andrew Barrett on May 29th, 2008
The Daily Telegraph posted the information and how the results were gained. Labour are a political party taking advantage of ‘face value’ figures which completely misrepresent Hyndburn.
Burnley closest matches our demographic (although we still have more lower income housing). Guess what? It is the closest match to our council tax in terms of percentage. The fact that it is slightly lower relates to the fact that the housing demographic is slightly richer.
It is quite clear to anybody who understands these figures that they do not represent Hyndburn and are just being used to con the electorate. Shame on Labour.
I was out canvassing, the leaflets were done separately. I canvassed on issues that mattered to the local people, and may I say Councillor Dobson got elected with a huge majority.
If you think people trust Labour you need to get out on the streets and talk to real people.
graham jones on May 29th, 2008
(For those confused. The Hyndburn Labour Party repeated facts and headlines previously published firstly in the Daily Telegraph, Latterly and more relatively The Lancashire Telegraph. This is our crime!)
When the survey was conducted we were the 54th poorest borough out of 354. Whilst only partly housing related, still highly reflective in it’s correlation, how come we still come out the most expensive?
There’s a case that says Apples and Oranges, Ribble Valley and Hyndburn.
And then there’s a case that says Apples and Apples. Hyndburn and other similar Authorities.
And we still came out the most expensive. So the Daily Telegraph, Lancs Telegraph and Labour Party are all wrong and Andrew Barrett is right?
Why don’t you get from behind your computer screen and do some real good for people and park your zealot Party Politics for 5 minutes instead of rubbishing people all the time?
Andrew Barrett on May 30th, 2008
It is a shame that you just don’t get it.
Your crime is not the repeating of figures, your crime is to misrepresent the figures for political gain.
I have just proved you wrong on the ’similar Authorities’ argument, so please stop using it.
The Telegraph figures, if you care to look at them, show that ‘Hyndburn is the most expensive relative to income percentage AND based on BAND D housing’. Therefore completely misrepresenting Hyndburn. If you take ‘similar authorities’ into account it STILL misrepresents Hyndburn because of our housing structure. The maths clearly shows the link between housing, just look at Burnley. I don’t know how more glaringly obvious I need to make it.
I resent you claiming I do no real good. As for ‘zealot Party Politics’ I think it is RIGHT to highlight when you’re taking the electorate for a ride on misleading figures.
I know you’re a politician but for once you could admit you’re wrong rather than refusing to back down over something you have misjudged.
graham jones on May 31st, 2008
You don’t like the truth and you never will. Your political allegiances seem to override any common sense.
Does Hyndburn have the highest No. of Band A or Band B properties in Britain? That is your argument why Band D is higher here than anywhere else.
As for your assertion of misprepresentation. It was a Conservative government that brought in bandings.
First of all the apples and oranges debate.
The Conservative view on this at the time was that people could act like consumers. You sold a Band D property in one area, you had the money to buy a Band D somewhere else and there for as a consumer, you could work out which Council was giving you ‘value for money’. Tories even boasted at the time under this yardstick you could see Labour Authorities charged more for political spin.
Remember that era, it was how you ended up with two cabinet members behind bars and one nearly behind bars for purgery.
Secondly the apples and apples debate. Housing differences between Burnley and Hyndburn are negligible. Council Tax; 72% is County which is static across the constituency of Lancashire, Burnley and Hyndburn. Only 15% approx is district so this just highlights how expensive Hyndburn is.
No we told the absolute truth. The public need to made aware of poor Conservative performance. Lot’s of people have accepted the stats, no-one has complained. They were clearly referenced on the literature so people could double check – a first – how often do political parties back up claims with a reference to the evidence.
We are a fantastic honest Labour Group. Unfortunately you are only letting yourself down demonstrating you are unable to accept the truth, participate in politics that affect people, rather than your own political points scoring.
Andrew Barrett on May 31st, 2008
“Your political allegiances seem to override any common sense.”
I think we can end the discussion here. You’re the Labour group leader on Hyndburn council, how could you possibly accuse anyone.
Is it not true that you in private hated that Greg Pope voted against the Conservative amendment to keep open post offices, but to the public you defended him. Lets see if you ARE honest because I know the truth in that one.
You may talk about the past, I deal with the present, with the facts. The facts overwhelmingly state that Hyndburn is not the most expensive council in the country.
Your last paragraph is pathetic. You have the biggest hatred for Conservatives, Peter Britcliffe and Jaysay I have ever witnessed from any person. I have seen the hatred myself. You are the political point scorer. I am pointing out massive errors in Labour leaflets because you are incapable of running the council well if you can’t understand these basics. Now THAT affects people.
Miss Angela Curwen on November 24th, 2008
I am a Hyndburn resident and after reading your article and responses regarding Hyndburn Council tax, i feel you are a real inspiration and have certainly done your research well!
Hope in the future i have the pleasure of voting for you one day.
Not only myself but the people of Hyndburn need an advocate like you. I am really impressed,
Regards
Angela
Vickie Ashworth on November 25th, 2008
Andrew Barrett well who would of thought it! You will be a PM one day!!!