I have just read a story (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/3256484.stm) on the proposed council tax hike for next year in sheffield... When I lived in Derby (last 4 years) council tax was nothing like as much as it is in sheffield. I, personally, don't feel the expense is justified. I'd like to see them spending it more wisely than on schemes like the 'city centre ambassadors'... Anyone else agree? And does anyone know who I write to to find out more about where the money goes?

I imagine you will find a contact address on the Sheffield City Council web site. If you want to know where the money goes here's a break down:

Where your council tax goes (http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/facts--figures/sheffields-budget/finance-at-a-glance)

Why does Sheffield always get the higher council tax hike compaired to the rest of the country.

This council ******* makes me sick! And I hope you guys view this. People struggle as it is with mortgage payments, bills, house prices etc, we dont have money growing on trees. And despite popular belief most of us dont earn anywhere near £400 per week (supposed national average).

Mine doesn't even reach £200! OK fat cat council folk!

Apologies for the rant folks, needed to get that off my chest

Originally posted by DaBouncer
Why does Sheffield always get the higher council tax hike compared to the rest of the country.
It doesn't. We came 18th out 36 metropolitan authorities last year for both % increase and Band D council tax. This is according to The Office of The Deputy Prime Minister's web site.

I was comparing band A myself. Last year I paid £69 a month (no discount) and this year I was charged £85 initially (although I have now applied for a single resident's discount) both figures for Band A properties. Even allowing for an increase in Derby's C/T (I understand it's now £74) there's still quite a gap, plus there's maybe 4 times the population of derby in sheffield coughing up their money... that's a lot of cash!!

... and I've just looked at your link, max, and they spend £123m on "Chief Executives"... AAAARRGHH! How can they possibly justify that????

Originally posted by max
It doesn't. We came 18th out 36 metropolitan authorities last year for both % increase and Band D council tax. This is according to The Office of The Deputy Prime Minister's web site.
Whooop di do.

It's still too high as it is. If you're happy paying maybe they could just increase yours Max.
I'm certainly peed of with it already.

You gotta at least admit it's beyond a joke!
And i heard that Sheffield is in the top 3% in the country for council tax rises. So ours goes up higher than most others.
My source: a friend who works for the council!

Originally posted by DaBouncer
Whooop di do.

It's still too high as it is. If you're happy paying maybe they could just increase yours Max.
I'm certainly peed of with it already.

You gotta at least admit it's beyond a joke!
And i heard that Sheffield is in the top 3% in the country for council tax rises. So ours goes up higher than most others.
My source: a friend who works for the council!

I didn't say I was happy with what I pay or the increases, I was just putting them in perspective.

I don't think many of us can be very happy with the amount our council tax costs us in relation to the services we supposedly get back from it...
Rubbish collection: I'm more than capable of dumping everyone's bins out all over the streets myself every Tuesday - and I wouldn't need a big truck and a team of people to help me.
Paper and card recycling: pretty much the same argument as above...looks like we've had a ticker tape parade down my street.
Police: Fabulous. They know everything about me from my place of employment to my knicker size - cos that's all they ever do when you phone them about a criminal in the act of being criminal - ask for every detail about YOU they can think of in order to not have to rush out and do something useful...oh, sometimes they pop in later to get a cup of tea off you in the guise of asking questions...

I could go on, but it would take all day. Especially my special rant about executives and managers and (some) councillors...

They are NOT welcome to any more of MY hard earned money - I'd like to see a little bit left at the end of the month for little things like food, clothes, and a life!

My rant ;) and no apologies

Cosy

I can remember getting our council tax bill last year - seeing that the payment to police had risen over 27% and my jaw nearly fell off. How the **** can they justify an increase of so much when sod all is done about crime :confused:

The year before was even more amusing - 4 people lived in our house, 3 of which were students so we were entitled to student discount of 25%. At some point one of us noticed that 2 of our names were spelt wrong on the bill so phoned up to get it changed. At which point they issued us another bill with the spellings correct but the 25% discount mysteriously gone. I phoned up to ask them about it and the next thing we all get a court summons through the door for non payment of council tax. At which point I kicked off and after some serious faffing about on their part they eventually sorted it out after first trying to claim it was our fault :loopy:

You just know that any council which uses the words "cabinet" and "executive" are going to waste money. Its simple, they spend more time thinking of titles for themselves than they do on the real problems. In the Sheffield telegraph today, there was an account of a debate in the council chamber. They deemed it more important to discuss the prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay rather than the future of Park Hill flats. While the former subject is important in a national and global sense, I can't see George W. doing anything about the situation on the say so of our council leader.