Councillor calls for meeting on York’s last tax office

Following the recent news that the HMRC will be closing York’s last tax office and relocating staff to Leeds, Cllr Andrew Waller, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader of the Council, has requested a meeting with the HMRC to discuss the possibility of retaining a base in the city.

In a letter to HMRC’s First Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive, Cllr Waller has asked the HMRC to explore further options in retaining the York tax office and the associated jobs.

Should the HMRC continue as planned, Cllr Waller has also sought reassurances of support to those staff that might be unable to transfer to Leeds, should the office close as planned.

Cllr Andrew Waller, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader of the Council, commented:

“It is disappointing to see that HMRC will be closing the last tax office in York and that public sector jobs will be transferred away from the city”

“That is why I have written to the First Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive of HMRC to ask that they reconsider these proposals and explore further options to retain a tax office here in York for the benefit of local residents and businesses.”

“The staff affected should be supported should they be unable to transfer to Leeds and I have sought assurances to this effect.”

Police tax level consultation starts in York

Click to take survey

The Police and Crime Commissioner is asking residents to complete an online survey.

Little background information is provided on the options available which are essentially a freeze (which would cut the police budget in real terms) or a 1.99% increase (the maximum that the government will allow unless a ridiculously expensive referendum is held)

If you opt for a referendum, then you are offered a choice of paying £5 year more, between £5 and £10 and over £10 a year.

There are only limited opportunity on the survey to mention crime concerns although one of the response boxes does allow you to write in that you think your additional contribution should be ringfenced to address, for example, anti-social behaviour issues.

York Council falls down league tables

A freedom of Information response has confirmed what many residents suspected. They are paying higher taxes than they would in many other City’s, and less is being invested in public services than 5 years ago.

Despite claims to the contrary, government grants to the city – relative to other unitary authorities – have been stable for 5 years..,

The main change is in Council Tax levels. When Labour took office in 2011 York had the second lowest Council Tax level in the country.

The Council now only ranks 14th lowest.

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Thousands of self-employed workers in York paid £593 less tax

Thousands of self-employed workers in York paid £593 less tax in their latest returns because of a Liberal Democrat policy to raise the personal tax allowance, new Treasury figures reveal.

The January 31 deadline for self-assessment was the first to include the Coalition’s income tax cut, introduced in April 2013. It saw the personal allowance – the point at which people start to pay tax – rise to £9,400.

New Treasury figures showed 2.3 million paid £593 less tax in their returns submitted to HMRC. The Treasury analysis also shows the number of self-employed benefitting from a tax cut will rise to 2.4 Million in 2015/16, with each person saving £825 when they file their returns. 12.8% of workers in York are self-employed according to the ONS (Office of National Statistics).

Liberal Democrat MP candidate for York Central Nick Love said:

“Thousands of self-employed workers in York have benefitted from this tax cut. Raising the personal allowance not only helps the poorest in society but puts more money of the pockets of everyday local small business owners, who are the lifeblood of our economy. This is a flagship Liberal Democrat policy and I’m delighted to see that it will make a difference to local people.”

Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said:

“It’s increasingly widely known that the Liberal Democrat policy of raising the personal income tax allowance will result in a tax cut to millions of working people that will be worth £825 a year to a typical basic rate tax payer on PAYE. But what these figures show is that our tax cuts are now flowing through to the self-employed. This is a boost to the entrepreneurs of Britain – to the men and women who are doing so much to rebuild our stronger economy and power our growth.”

York green bin charges generating £40,000 a year

Landfill

The York Council has revealed that it is receiving an additional £40,000 a year from the new charges introduced for emptying supplementary green (garden waste) bins.

Each household has been entitled to have only one green bin emptied free of charge since the beginning of April 2014.

When the Labour Cabinet decided to introduce the charges in April 2013, they were told that there were at least 5000 additional green waste bins in use in the City.

They hoped that, by charging £35 per bin per year, they would generate over £122,000 a year in increased revenue.

In reality only 1166 households have decided to pay for the extra bins.

It is unclear that is now happening to the green waste that was previously collected.

While some will be “home composted”, more is likely to be going into grey bins.

This will potentially generate more than £50,000 in landfill tax “penalties” making the charging scheme look unattractive to Council Taxpayers who will have to pick up the extra bill.

5200 York families now entitled to tax free childcare

Tax-free childcare to be increased to £2000 per child
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A major new childcare package to help millions of parents with the cost of living and give children the best possible start in life was unveiled by Nick Clegg today.

The new tax-free childcare scheme, announced by the Liberal Democrats last year, will be increased from £1,200 to £2,000 per child and the scheme will be brought forward to Autumn 2015.

This means that working parents earning at least £50 per week, will get 20% off the cost of childcare up to a limit of £10,000 for every child under the age of 12.

Those working part-time, on maternity leave or starting their own business will also be eligible for support with their childcare costs.

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