THE CONVENTION of Scottish Local Authorities yesterday reminded the
Government of councils' continuing problems of poll tax non-payment.
Cosla's Labour president, Councillor Jean McFadden, in a statement on
the eve of the Queen's Speech introducing the new council tax, warned
that local government could not sustain services for the remaining 17
months of the poll tax if non-payment continued at its present level.
She repeated Cosla's demand for immediate 100% rebates for those on
Income Support, and exemption for students who pay 20%. Councillor
McFadden also called for compensation for local authorities for loss of
income.
Poll tax debt stands at #350m for the first two years of the system,
and for the financial year which ends in March, 70% of poll tax income
remains unpaid.
Councillor McFadden said Cosla welcomed a property-based tax, but like
many other organisations, did not accept the valuation banding designed
to subsidise the better off.
She also claimed the Government's plan to incorporate a complicated
system of discounts requiring investigation into each and every
household was retaining the worst factors of the poll tax.
''Let no one believe for a moment that this is a simple tax. Its
administrative complexity, with personal discounts and rebates, will
rival that of the poll tax,'' Councillor McFadden warned.
A second local government Bill containing proposals to extend
compulsory competitive tendering to white collar council services is
also expected to be announced later today.
Councillor McFadden said the Government should direct its attention to
the existing CCT operation in Scotland, which she claimed had not
brought the savings anticipated by ministers, and had placed unnecessary
administrative burdens on the services involved.
The proposed extension of enforced tendering, she said, was designed
to further fragment authorities by privatising services such as finance
and computing. In certain cases, councils might wish to put these
services out to tender, but it was wrong to force every authority to do
so.
She also complained that the Scottish Office had refused to let Cosla
see the consultants' report recommending the increase in CCT. This lack
of co-operation, said Councillor McFadden, showed how the Government
wished to impose compulsory tendering at whatever cost on local
government.
The legislation is also expected to impose tough new rules governing
the way tenders are drawn up and considered. These could include
scrapping current rules on redundancy costs as part of what Ministers
claim is a drive to ensure a more level playing field for private firms
competing against in-house council tenders.
This second Bill is also expected to include provisions for setting up
an independent commission which will examine area by area the future
shape of local government in England. Despite pressure from Cosla,
Scottish Secretary Ian Lang has resisted calls to set up a similar body
in Scotland.
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