Consultation Responses

Consultation Responses Please find below a representative selection of responses to the Budget Consultation so far. For full copies or further details of the correspondence summarised below please contact Sarah Harwood, Policy Assistant. A. General A1. ‘I understand that an 11.1% rise in Council tax is planned for 2004/5. This is on top of rises well above the rate of inflation for the next six years, totalling an increase of about 70% since the 1998/9 bill! I feel your advert is unfair in laying the blame at the door of government. How can the required budget for MK rise from £140m in 1997/8 to £240m now? The local population clearly hasn’t risen anywhere near this proportion. The people of MK are virtually blackmailed emotionally by having stark choices presented to them’ A Member of the Public A2. ‘The proposed increase is excessive in the extreme. Any increase should not exceed inflation and preferably there should be none at all with the Council pruning its costs and curtailing its, often unnecessary, interventions. If the Council believe it can make £1m of efficiency savings, surely it has significantly overspent in earlier years. In light of this, there must be substantial room for further cuts. Demand on services should not be allowed to increase and the full economies available from increased growth utilised, also increased pension costs should be reduced by ceasing the current pension scheme arrangements. Further to this: Why provide black sacks at all? Cease purchase of audio-visual equipment for libraries, reduce grants for voluntary organisations, restrict payments to councillors, reduce payments to the MK theatre to zero. The savings suggested indicate that the Council is a grossly over-manned and inefficient organisation – increase internal savings to seven figures’ A Member of the Public A3. ‘It seems that Central Government is continuing to cheat Milton Keynes with regard to funding. Increasing Council Tax to cover such cheating is no longer the way forward. All you will do is maintain the status quo which will continue to worsen things year by year if MK is forced to expand as proposed by Government. It seems you have only one choice – increase tax by 3.1% and refuse to provide the services demanded by the Government once the available money runs out. The current process of double-digit increases has to stop. I will be cancelling my direct debit and will be happy to join any protest the Council care to arrange’ A Member of the Public A4. ‘I’m strongly convinced of the inadequacy of the Government’s settlement for 2004/5. It is a matter I will be taking up with Brian White MP as I am getting fed up with our MPs failure to achieve the sort of settlement MK needs.’ A Member of the Public A5. ‘Why not raise Council Tax higher than 11% and make no cuts? In my opinion the people who want council tax as low as possible are also the ones who moan about cutbacks. You have done a good job of analysing where cuts can be made, but they are all essential services, except perhaps the Theatre & Gallery. I object in particular to plans to reduce Stony Stratford Library – it is a 1 wonderful place. I think that tax should go up so that we can all have decent services throughout the community; the benefits would be far reaching.’ A Member of the Public A6. ‘I think it is disgusting that you are setting tax at 11% - it is nearly all my pension. No way will I be able to afford what you are asking even if it means I will have to go to prison. I am just not going to pay it because I can’t but you should be targeting the wealthy who can afford it.’ A Member of the Public A7. ‘The lobbying of Government is vital – put as much effort into this as you can. I believe that cuts affecting people directly should only be made after cuts on material maintenance and non-essential services’ A Member of the Public A8. ‘I write to protest about the raise in Council tax. I am on a less that average wage, 45% of which will go on rent and council tax. Take a look around this estate (Heelands) - it is a mess! Where does the money from parking go? Not on public transport, that’s for certain. I hope everyone in this city protests to let you lot know that we are simply fed up with paying council tax and receiving nothing in return’ A Member of the Public A9. ‘I find the tax increases totally unbelievable. The Government which is representing the people expect us to take pay increases of 3.5%, so why should we pay nearly 7% increase to the council? Every year you increase above inflation and we just sit back and pay it. Why do you expect people to manage their finances when you cannot manage yours? I will only pay the 3.5% increase that I will be getting. You always blame number 10 and they always blame you – so will we ever get a true answer to the shambles of the UK council system? I think not!’ A Member of the Public A10. ‘In the last 2 years Milton Keynes residents have seen rises many times more than inflation and I am interested to hear when this will stop? This is in a time of instability in the Global economies so we are all expected to work harder for no pay rewards to carry us all forward into future prosperity. It appears these factors can be either overlooked or ignored when it comes to public sector financing. To explain it away as insufficient grant from the government due to outdated population figures is not showing any compassion for the existing and long- standing population within Milton Keynes. Why should I fund new schemes to increase the population at Milton Keynes to ensure that I will end up paying more for poorer facilities in the future? I feel that as a married couple we are being victimised for investing in the future to give my wife and I stability by purchasing the best home we can possibly afford. Although we have a four bedroom house there is only the two of us we have no children and do not intend to have any and so we are funding schools and colleges etc assuming that we have a household full, due to the size of house we own. A fairer system would be on the head count within the house as it is the people who are being provided for and not the property. Why should those looking to provide for themselves in the future be taxed disproportionately to fund those who don’t and are a drain on the council’s services/budget?’ A Member of the Public 2 A11. As a householder in Milton Keynes I have no alternatives with regards to paying for my Council Tax unlike the modern market where I can shop around for the best service at a competitive price. Therefore I am expected to accept the increases without negotiation and will be imprisoned if I fail to pay. At what point will it be acceptable for Milton Keynes residents to refuse to pay after next years over inflation increase: or the year after? ‘Have seen the proposals for a 11.1% rise I think this is diabolical, especially as I only get a cost of living rise that is supposed to match inflation. I thought I paid enough tax as it was. In addition how can the government even consider expanding Milton Keynes if Milton Keynes cannot cope with the demands already placed on it?’ A Member of the Public A12. ‘An increase of 11.1% is totally unacceptable! An increase of half this would also be unacceptable. Can’t someone realise that the money is not there. The Council Tax payer does not have limitless resources. I cannot knock on my neighbour's door and ask him to help. Similarly, the Council should spend within a realistic income. I realise the government appears to be passing obligations down the line without providing the means. I suggest the Association of Local Authorities tells the government that the limit has been reached. Taking care of the environment should be the first priority i.e. good repair, cleanliness and safety. People should be encouraged to provide their facilities directly from their own pocket. I cherish books and buy them out of my own pocket but I do not expect someone else to pay if I want to visit the library, likewise the theatre. No doubt it will be said that these things are the mark of a civilised society but it seems as long as someone else will pay. Compounded increases are exacerbating the situation and bringing nearer the prospect of civil disobedience. Matters are getting serious which will only be rectified when local and central government lives within its means.’ A Member of the Public A13. ‘I have a number of concerns, especially since I helped vote you in, but will focus on what has raised my blood pressure the most. In the article in The Citizen, under the heading 'Could services be cut further instead of increasing council tax?' in one of the bullet points you say 'Stopping provision of free rubbish sacks.' My question is - since when has the Council been giving out free rubbish sacks? Forgive me, but I thought that these were budgeted for in the Council Tax I already pay! What else do you class as free? Fire Service? Police? Community Care? When will you be cutting out these free services? Please don't play with words.

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