27 April 2007

Rates Inquiry Will Lead Nowhere Unless It Includes A Review Of Local Council Activities.

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE MONDAY.

In a submission to the Independent Inquiry into Rates, founder/organiser of the  NoMoreRates campaign, David Thornton, has asked the Inquiry Chairman to seek an extention to the Inquiry’s terms of refeernce to include a review of the powers and role of local councils.

David Thornton told the Inquiry that a similar inquiry into council funding had recently been completed in the UK, and the chairman of that inquiry had been given an extended brief to look at the whole range of council activities.

“One of the real problems ratepayers have is the way in which their money is being spent” David Thornton told the Inquiry recently..

“Many NoMoreRates supporters say that their concern is not just about about the huge rate increases, and there is a widespread belief that ratepayers are not getting sufficient value for the money they are already forced to pay.”

David Thornton said today that if the Rates Inquiry did not include a a full review of council activities it could not make soundly based recommendations as to how those activities were paid for.

“When I put this proposal to the chairman of the Inquiry his response was that he must deliver his report to the Minister by 31st July, and was determined to do so”. Mr Thornton said.

“In my opinion it was more important to deliver a credible report – rather than rush to meet an unrealistic deadline”.

Submissions to the Independent Rates Inquiry close next Monday and NoMoreRates is encouraging all ratepayers to make their views known by sending in written submissions this weekend.

[More information is available on the campaign’s updated website www.nomorerates.com]

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