14 November 2012
Anti-social developers and property owners who are running St Helens down should be subject to a Land Value Tax, according to St Helens Green Party.
Nationally, the Green Party is calling on the Treasury to consider replacing Business Rates and Council Tax with a Land Value Tax – a move that could make a big difference to the borough.
St Helens Green Party secretary, Will Fitzpatrick, explains:
“Developers who won’t develop are a scourge of our borough. Most local communities are blighted to some extent by derelict land or by properties that have deliberately been allowed to become run-down. Things would be very different if the owners had to pay the same tax as those who actually bother to look after their land and property.
“A Land Value Tax would encourage development instead of dereliction. If the land is earning money then it will more than cover the tax, but where there’s nothing happening the tax will become an incentive.
St Helens Green Party believes the Land Value Tax also offers a much fairer system than Council Tax.
Will Fitzpatrick adds:
“Council tax should be abolished. It is an unfair tax, based on out-of-date bandings, that disproportionately hits the poor. People living in properties worth £100,000 don't pay 10% of the council tax paid by those in properties worth £1million, they pay 40%.
“The council tax system itself means people receiving council tax benefit become stuck in a poverty trap, while local authorities cannot afford to maintain services without massive increases in council tax. It has to go.”
A bill sponsored by Green Party MP Caroline Lucas is expected to be debated in the House of Commons in January.
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