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A new report by the TaxPayers' Alliance shows that
residents in England now pay more for services such as
waste collection, airports and bridge tolls.
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Waste collection fees have risen by 37 per
cent and those for airports, harbours and tolls have
increased by 109 per cent between 2010 and 2016.
New research by the TaxPayers' Alliance reveals that councils in
England have resorted to imposing stealth taxes on residents
by charging more for services such as waste collection
and bridge tolls - even in instances where services have been
reduced.
In an analysis of more than 22 services, the TPA has found
that some saw a reduction in fees. However, in some of the
most visible services charges and fees have rocketed.
Fees and charges as a proportion of total service expenditure
have risen from 8.7 per cent to 9.6 per
cent. Sales, fees and charges that have increased for
residents include housing, environmental and regulatory services
and planning. This includes services such as bin collections and
planning applications.
Although there has been an increase in the number of people, cars
and businesses across England during this period, sales, fees and
charges in many spending areas have gone up in real terms on a
per resident basis.
Specific council services which saw fee rises between 2010 and
2016 included:
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Waste collection. In spite of many
councils curtailing the number of bin collection days, fees and
charges to individuals were 37 per cent higher, such
as for garden waste and special collections.
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Cemetery, cremation and mortuary services. The
number of deaths rose by 6.5 per cent in England over the six
year period. Sales, fees and charges, howeverincreased
by 19.8 per cent, to £291 million in 2015-16.
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Airports, harbours and toll
facilities. Many local authorities own transport
assets. Newcastle Airport, for instance, is majority owned by
seven local authorities in the North East. There has been a
real terms increase of 109 per
cent in fees between 2010 and 2016.
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Trade waste. This is any physical waste
generated by a business or tradesman within a local authority
area. In real terms, the costs of waste disposal to businesses
across England increased 12 per cent up to 2015-16 to £183.7
million in today’s prices.
Commenting on the findings of this
report, TaxPayers' Alliance Chief Executive
John O'Connell said:
"These are considerable rate rises which will hit residents
in England hard. In many instances people are being asked to pay
more for services that have actually been reduced, such as
fortnightly bin collections.
Councils should ensure that they cut out all wasteful
spending before asking taxpayers to pay big fees on top of their
Council Tax bill."
