COUNCIL TAX DECISIONS TO BE TAKEN OUT OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

MONMOUTH AM Nick Ramsay has today condemned moves to scrap local council tax tribunals. The decision has been taken by Welsh Assembly Local Government Minister Brian Gibbons in the face of considerable opposition.

The ‘Valuation Tribunals' (VTs), which represent the different regions of Wales, will be subsumed into one entity, with no link to Monmouth or to local taxpayers.

The decision to ditch them was made, ironically, after a consultation lent its overwhelming support to the current arrangement

Commenting on the decision AM Nick stated that to go against the will of the majority is ‘shocking and shameful' and will deprive Monmouth of ‘legal and local representation' in the face of unfair hikes and valuations. In a written statement, he said:

"I am extremely concerned that the current system will be scrapped and replaced by an impersonal bureaucracy. The Assembly Government prides itself on ‘evidence-based policy,' but out of 45 consultation responses, only 2 respondents wanted to scrap the four tribunals."

"The appeals process can often be lengthy, which causes householders and businesses considerable stress. Outsourcing the appeals process to an impersonal Body, with no links to the local community, will only add to these stresses and strains."

"What we need is more, not less, local accountability and fiscal autonomy. The arrogant presumption of a central government towards a local one will damage the Assembly, and make people even more suspicious with the political process.

"The decision to go ahead is so controversial that even Plaid Cymru, Labour's partner in the Assembly, have accused the Minister of ‘misrepresenting' their views in the final report. I've never seen anything like it."