Latest news with #AndrewDixon
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Number of council tax dodgers soars to highest level since 2009
The number of households not paying their council tax has risen to 4.4 million, the highest amount in 14 years. Research by Debt Justice, a campaign group, found the figure increased by 40pc last year, from 3.2 million in 2023. It amounts to the largest number of households in council tax arrears since 2009, when the global financial crash wiped out families' savings. In total, taxpayers owed around £6bn to cash-strapped local authorities last year, up from £5.5bn the year prior. Councils are already facing a £2.3bn funding gap this year, according to the Local Government Association. Campaigners said the figures show local authorities should focus on the 'growing crisis' of tax arrears rather than increasing council tax. Nine in ten town halls increased the tax by the maximum 5pc this year, bringing the average cost of a Band D property to £2,280. And a nationwide clampdown on second home owners has left them being charged double council tax. The premium, which has been introduced by more than 200 councils, means the average bill on a second home is £3,672. Telegraph Money is campaigning for the levy to be abolished. John O'Connell, of lobby group the TaxPayers' Alliance said: 'With a record 4.4m people now in council tax debt, town hall bosses should be focusing on helping struggling households, not hammering second homeowners with punitive premiums. 'Hiking taxes on one group won't solve the growing crisis facing millions of others.' Earlier this year, The Telegraph revealed that Labour councils are chasing almost twice as much unpaid council tax as Conservative-led authorities. Our analysis showed councils are already chasing £4.4bn in unpaid taxes. Of this, more than £2.5bn was owed to councils run by Labour, compared to £673m owed to Tory councils. Debt Justice highlighted that people who miss a council tax payment are generally from the poorest households. The Government is currently considering a ban on the use of bailiffs to chase arrears and will publish a consultation later this year. Andrew Dixon, of campaign group Fairer Share, said: 'I am deeply concerned by Debt Justice's recent findings. This alarming increase underscores the urgent need to reform our outdated and regressive council tax system.' Councillor Adam Hug, housing spokesman for the LGA said: 'All councils make every effort to collect the that which is owing to them and 96 per cent of council tax is collected in the year in which it is due. 'When there are instances of unpaid council tax, it is often due to complex circumstances or people already facing hardship, and local authorities seek to work with individuals to work out a payment plan and avoid them lapsing into debt.' The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government was contacted for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Number of council tax dodgers soars to highest level since 2009
The number of households not paying their council tax has risen to 4.4 million, the highest amount in 14 years. Research by Debt Justice, a campaign group, found the figure increased by 40pc last year, from 3.2 million in 2023. It amounts to the largest number of households in council tax arrears since 2009, when the global financial crash wiped out families' savings. In total, taxpayers owed around £6bn to cash-strapped local authorities last year, up from £5.5bn the year prior. Councils are already facing a £2.3bn funding gap this year, according to the Local Government Association. Campaigners said the figures show local authorities should focus on the 'growing crisis' of tax arrears rather than increasing council tax. Nine in ten town halls increased the tax by the maximum 5pc this year, bringing the average cost of a Band D property to £2,280. And a nationwide clampdown on second home owners has left them being charged double council tax. The premium, which has been introduced by more than 200 councils, means the average bill on a second home is £3,672. Telegraph Money is campaigning for the levy to be abolished. John O'Connell, of lobby group the TaxPayers' Alliance said: 'With a record 4.4m people now in council tax debt, town hall bosses should be focusing on helping struggling households, not hammering second homeowners with punitive premiums. 'Hiking taxes on one group won't solve the growing crisis facing millions of others.' Earlier this year, The Telegraph revealed that Labour councils are chasing almost twice as much unpaid council tax as Conservative-led authorities. Our analysis showed councils are already chasing £4.4bn in unpaid taxes. Of this, more than £2.5bn was owed to councils run by Labour, compared to £673m owed to Tory councils. Debt Justice highlighted that people who miss a council tax payment are generally from the poorest households. The Government is currently considering a ban on the use of bailiffs to chase arrears and will publish a consultation later this year. Andrew Dixon, of campaign group Fairer Share, said: 'I am deeply concerned by Debt Justice's recent findings. This alarming increase underscores the urgent need to reform our outdated and regressive council tax system.' Councillor Adam Hug, housing spokesman for the LGA said: 'All councils make every effort to collect the that which is owing to them and 96 per cent of council tax is collected in the year in which it is due. 'When there are instances of unpaid council tax, it is often due to complex circumstances or people already facing hardship, and local authorities seek to work with individuals to work out a payment plan and avoid them lapsing into debt.' The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government was contacted for comment.
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First Post
23-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
New battle brews against Beijing: Singapore, Indonesian holiday islands protest China's alumina push -- taking
China's Nanshan Group, has planned to establish a local unit in the Indonesian island of Bintan, sparking protests among businesses that operate there read more China's business ambitions are hurting the peace and calm of a cluster of islands that is a popular tourist spot among Singaporeans. A large China-based conglomerate, Nanshan Group, has planned to establish a local unit in the Indonesian islands of Bintan and other archipelagos, sparking protests among businesses that operate there. Although the company claims to adhere to environmental regulations and has pledged to minimise its ecological impact, the project has drawn renewed attention to the rapid expansion of Chinese raw materials firms in Indonesia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, this will not be the first time Nanshan has built a presence in the Indonesian islands. The company's Gbkek Industri Park already has an industrial park in Bintan's southeast. The Indonesian government has created a special economic zone in the area to lure more investments, and as part of this status, Nanshan enjoys perks like tax waivers for up to 20 years. What's the plan? The firm has now announced plans to bring more Chinese firms to the site and build a $6 billion aluminium smelting complex by 2028. As part of this expansion, there are plans to develop another industrial park on nearby Pulau Poto, a small, low-lying sandy island. According to resort co-owner Andrew Dixon, citing environmental impact documents shared with local business operators, the proposed development includes a steel smelter, an oil refinery, and both multi-purpose and bulk cargo ports. Gbkek director Santoni told Bloomberg that the Indonesian government has permitted the company to expand its operations to Poto. He said that the firm will build a petrochemical industry on the island as well as build ports. 'We will expand and develop the GB Special Economic Zone, that is also our right. We don't understand what the objections of the resort operator are,' he said. Why are people protesting? Dixon has said that industrial operations on Poto 'would not just be devastating for our own business but it's going to devastate the communities in that area.' According to him, resort operators and landowners, who have been filing objection letters since 2023, submitted their most recent protest to the Indonesian government earlier this month, addressing it to the environment and tourism ministries. A meeting between the involved parties is scheduled for next week. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'What was once a very rich unique marine environment is now a nearly dead zone,' said Marc van Loo, who owns the resort on the island.
