Latest Newsletter

Latest Newsletter The latest round up of news and events includes:

The Government
Uncollected Council Tax
Survey Results
Rubbish Tax

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Latest Press Release

Isitfair welcomes the announcement by the Conservative party that council tax will be frozen should they form the next Government. The SNP has already achieved a council tax freeze across the whole of Scotland this year, which proves that with the right political willpower, this can be achieved.
It is now time for the year on year inflation busting increases in council tax to be stopped and for this Government to clearly demonstrate that they are prepared to do whatever it takes to help hard working taxpayers.
Council tax payers have suffered enough! Read more...

Welcome to Isitfair

Who or What is Isitfair?

Warning - Council Tax Isitfair was started in October 2002 by Christine and John Melsom as a local action group in Hampshire. They were incensed about the proposed huge increase in Council Tax bills for the year 2003/04. This was the year when the average increase was 12.9%! Although the Government knew that this was going to happen, they did nothing to prevent it. Instead, they blamed the local councils!
Following the first public meeting in March 2003, this website was set up and the number of supporters from all over the country grew rapidly. A national petition was launched that called for the fair distribution of Government Grants to all Local Authorities and the replacement of Council Tax with a system based on ability to pay.
In January 2004 a march and rally was held in London. Thousands of people attended to support this worthwhile cause. The nationwide petition with over 100,000 signatures was handed in to No. 10 Downing Street. A rally followed in Trafalgar Square. Speeches were made by both Isitfair members and other like minded organisations. Read more...

Rubbish Tax - we are being deceived and lied to

Government is once again found to be duplicitous

Refuse Lorry In was reported in June 2008 that in a report for DEFRA called 'Household Waste Prevention Policy', consideration was given to changing planning laws in order to limit the amount of waste to be collected per dwelling. Other ideas were forcing residents to buy bin bags from their local council at a cost of 75p each, refusing to collect any 'non approved' bags and the possibility of increasing rubbish tax to £466 per year. This was recorded by Isitfair and incorporated in our report 'Where there's muck there's brass' which can be accessed from the menu link called Rubbish Tax.

To date, ministers have always claimed that any implementation of this new tax will be a matter for each local authority to decide. However, Central Government will 'encourage' local authorities to make the 'right decision'. Isitfair has stated quite clearly in its report that the implementation of this new tax is a 'done deal' and this would now seem to be confirmed as correct.

The 'Household Waste Prevention Policy' report is dated May 2007 and was compiled by eunomia research and consulting for DEFRA. The report contains 412 pages but a summary may be downloaded at:

The Environment Council website

However, in May 2008, Joan Ruddock (Environment Minister) in a written answer said that the report was not yet ready for publication and it appears from the following press release that the Opposition have forced the Government's hand:

Secret report exposes bin cuts are now official Whitehall policy

Whilst Isitfair supports voluntary recycling schemes, which are working well as recycling rates are on target to achieve 40% by 2010 as confirmed by DEFRA, it is not convinced that the introduction of a new tax is justifiable. The Government simply cannot be trusted to be truthful on this matter and we strongly recommend that every tax payer reads our report and then contacts their MP to voice their concern or otherwise over this matter. In 2010 when the next General Election is called, feedback received leads us to believe that this will be a key policy area that will decide how many people vote.

Council Tax Videos

Brown Envelope Day - council tax protesters take their bills, and a message directly to Gordon Brown, but will he listen? Watch here.

Who is responsible for the relentless year on year inflation busting increases in Council Tax? You may be surprised - be warned. Click here to find out.

See more videos about Council Tax here.

Council Tax Reform

NLGN Council Tax Report Since its inception, Isitfair has suggested that IT and VAT should be used to replace Council Tax. Everyone knows that people pay taxes, not properties and that the value of your home does not directly relate to your disposable income that Council Tax has to be paid from. The politicians have always scoffed at this suggestion. At last though, an independent thinktank, the New Local Government Network (NLGN) seems to be thinking along similar lines to the council tax payer. The NLGN have published a white paper called "Escape from Council Tax - Curing the symptons of failure" that has some similarities to Isitfair's own suggestions, but puts forward a new way of resolving the issue of year on year inflation busting bills. This is by far one of the best suggestions we have seen and we recommend that everyone reads it. Feedback via our Users' Forum would be appreciated.

and in death...

Our Campaign

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