Tax payers left stunned at increase in their bill - Submitted 14 Mar 2008 - Source Leicester Mercury

A parish council has come under fire after increasing its share of the council tax bills by a massive 63.4 per cent (= 50p a week, ed).

Villagers in Leicester Forest East got a nasty shock when they opened their bill to find the huge rise. However, the parish council is sticking to its guns saying it needs the cash to improve the area - and district councillors say there is nothing they can do to intervene.

Resident Eric Bull, 73, of Leicester Forest East, said he was stunned at the increase. "When we opened our bill we couldn't understand why there was a 63 per cent rise," he said. "It seems to be out of proportion. It makes you wonder how they've managed before. "You could understand 10 per cent or even 20 but this is rather a lot."

Another villager, Stuart Coar, 48, said: "This is absolutely despicable. "I think every single resident of Leicester Forest East will be wondering what on Earth has happened here."No way should anyone be allowed to implement such ridiculous increases."

He lives in a band E property in Leicester Forest East and will pay £1,727council tax this year. Included in that is the parish council precept which has gone up from £42.56 to £69.55.

City, district and county councils have been warned they face capping if they increase their bills by more than five per cent.Fire and police authorities have also been given the same warnings - although Leicestershire Police Authority has agreed a rise of 15.4 per cent. However parish councils do not face the same threat.

Local Blaby district councillor David Clements said there was nothing that could be done. He said: "The parish councils are entitled to set their own precept and not to be influenced by the district council at all.

"Parish councils are the only ones among the authorities who can't be capped. "We just have to accept what the parish councils ask for. There's no way we can say to them, 'you can't put it up by this amount'.

"It is unusually high for a parish council but I believe their reason for putting it up is for play equipment for children's playgrounds."

Parish clerk Sue Jones said: "Yes, there has been an increase in the parish precept. This was put into place after careful consideration by the parish council in order to provide better facilities for the community.

"The parish council is looking at developing the parish hall and they also intend to replace the outdated and unsuitable play equipment within the parish in an attempt to provide better facilities for the community as a whole."

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Reader comments in respose to the article in the Leicester Mercury

So Mr Mitchumson, not many people attend parish meetings ?? Are you surprised when totally irresponsible and outlandish actions like a 63% increase are made ! - Be assured these people are living in another world. Dont worry though I will be ensuring that this will NEVER be allowed to be implemented again. How can you cap a police force yet allow a bunch of Gala organisers to implement a 63% increase ?? - Its crazy and government will sort it very soon, be assured !!! very concerned and angry, LFE

Maybe the residents that feel the increases are unacceptable should get more involved and be more proactive, rather than just sitting back and then complaining for the sake of it.
The average attendance for the monthly Leicester Forest East Parish Council meetings by members of the public is very disappointing (4). Attendees have an opportunity to discuss their concerns and voice their opinions with the councillors who act on their behalf.

It?s all very well moaning after the event. The Parish council have made requests for feedback on a number of issues and the responses received have so far been pathetic. Jim Mitchinson, Leicester Forest East

£26 per year . . About £2.16 per month . . . About 50p per week. Do any of us, from poorer Pensioners to better off Band E'ers to rishc Band H'ers really need to worry about it? If we see the benefits promised, it'll be worth it . . won't it? Marie Esworthy, L F E

Parish Councils don't do anything they should be scrapped. AS, LFE

Leader of Leicestershire County Council, David Parsons, who is also county councillor for Leicester Forest East, has today expressed his disappointment at the 63.4pc increase in the parish council rate.

It contrasts starkly with the 3.9pc increase in Leicestershire council tax, which is forecast to fall even further in the next two years. David is standing up for the residents of Leicester Forest East. The rise for residents in LFE because of the parish increase is at odds with the falling rate of council tax increases in Leicestershire.

The County Council has been adjudged as one of the best value for money councils in the country with some of the best services nationally. The proposals from LFE parish council are not in line with Leicestershire?s plan to lower council tax rises year on year. David Parsons adds, ?I shall be asking the clerk to the parish council, Sue Jones, to convene an urgent meeting to discuss the reasons behind this rise. Many people simply cannot afford higher parish precepts and councils ignore this at their peril.? David is backing the campaign to have the parish council look again at the increase. David Parsons, County Hall, Leics

I don't mean any disrespect but what do you expect?? They have their 'council meetings' to see where they can tax you the most. Boroughs across Leicestershire are doing - albeit not to the excessive as LFE - however Oadby and Wigston Borough are the dearest in Leicestershire and we get NOTHING in return.

Kids have ruined the playgrounds, graffitted and whatever else in the public toilets, binmen don't take your rubbish, there is litter everywhere - and at the end of doing the right thing and filling out their forms - there is still no change. At the end of the day we are being taxed to the high hilt to pay for someone's salary!

The cost of living has gone up to the point of breaking and people are therefore demanding more pay to live on to just get by! You have the Government to thank for your council tax hike - not the council. People wouldn't have stood for it when they bought out the Poll Tax (which eventually was axed!!) so why are we putting up with it now?? K, Wigston

It just amazes me, only £26.00 someone says, be assured our increase in LFE is well over £100.00, but the Parish sees fit to increase by 63% ? Where is the planning ? If they wanted to improve play equipment they should have planned this some years ago. As for comments the parish pays for police etc, thats absoute rubbish !!

Blaby and the County council pay for that from their contribution. Well done BLABY and LEICESTERSHIRE CC, they kept theirs BELOW 5%, so why does the local parish council think it right to ask for more ? Very surprised, leicester

I'm not sure anyone really knows what a 'parish council' does - on top of the Council Tax, Police Tax and so on, I don't! What seems very clear is that the 'parish' is taking all the flak for basic Council and Police services that simply aren't value for money any more - but why should the parish have to cop up unless people don't want any facilities where they live?

Complain by all means, but don't necessarily blame the parish for doing its bit on a two-penny shoestring budget... Fraser, Derby

For goodness sakes people it is only an extra £26 per year, you are acting as if the council tax has gone up by 63%! And I bet the people who moan about it are the ones who ARE always moaning about the lack of and poor facilities etc, youth crime blar blar.

My parish council had an extremly high increase the year before last, but it was not reported within Mercury headlines, and I shall let you know also that it has been well worth it, and there was not a substantial rise the following year. elle, leicestershire

They've backed themselves into a corner. They have no excuses what-so-ever if the work isn't carried out over the next 12 months.

I don't mind paying £25 just as long as we do get our children?s playground, all street lights working, extra policing (at night when the youths are out being a nuisance), graffiti removed, yobs tackled, streets cleaned up, poor parking resolved...and the list goes on.

I now urge the residents of Leicester Forest East to go to the Parish Council Website http://leicesterforesteast.leicestershireparishcouncils.org/ and fill out the Village Fault Reporting Form and get the money spent! Mr LFE, LFE

How on earth can a Parish Council be allowed to implement such a ludicrous increase. The residents of LFE need to get in touch with their MP and ask him to evaluate this. LFE parish council spent thousands of pounds some years ago on a massive football / volleyball pad.

It got used many times, but obviously with use it needed repairs. They failed to up keep it properly and it was dismantled - What a Waste of public money. One can only assume they intend to do the same again ?? Round 2 hey ?? very concerened LFE, Leicester Forest East

63% is a huge increase, and one wonders why these community improvements have been left and not been tackled before. I wonder whether the increase is just a "guesstimate" or whether these projects have been the subject of three quotes and each one costed out? Does the precept also give a percentage increase for the clerks salary, if so, how much is it? Concerned, Leicestershire

Source Leicester Mercury 10 March 2008

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