AS summer draws to a close, many residents have found themselves surprised by the new “Tenant Top-Up Taxes” introduced by the Tory-controlled Thurrock Council.
There are new charges for lift maintenance, door entry systems communal heating and lighting, and grounds maintenance. The total extra payable could be nearly £400 per year for some residents, despite no new services being delivered.
Thurrock Labour have consistently campaigned against the increases, brought a petition to council and voted against the council’s Housing budget in February. However, in July the Tory cabinet agreed to push ahead with the charges despite outcry from opposition groups and overwhelming opposition to the idea from council tenants.
This weekend, Thurrock Labour teams were knocking on doors and talking to residents about the changes.
Leader of the Labour Group, Oliver Gerrish said: “It’s immensely frustrating to see these charges going ahead. The majority of councillors are opposed to them. The majority of residents are opposed to them. It’s only the Tories who think bashing council tenants is a good idea.
“We have opposed these plans continually over the last year. The Tories are punishing the council’s tenants because of Tory cuts in council funding. I want to be really clear on this – these charges would not have been introduced under a Labour administration. Sadly, the Tories took their first opportunity to bring them in, and now residents are seeing the difference between a Conservative council and a Labour council.
“I am calling on the administration once again to scrap these charges. The Tories need to listen to council tenants. Thurrock Labour will continue our campaign against these Tenant Taxes and for a fairer Thurrock.”
This Tory/bnp/dup/uvf party are really heartless.
Sadly this is pushing me onto the dole. Which means Thurrock taxpayers will sadly have to see increases in there taxes.
Welll done Tories when are you going to get the Taxes from Amazon and VIrgin
I feel the tories believe the rich can do anything and the poor should be killed.
I sent a letter to the Gazette about this and it got quoted in their coverage of this issue. You can sign the online petition at https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/no-to-the-new-thurrock-council-charges
“This would not happen under a Labour Administration” No they just sold off all the
grass cutting equipment when they were in charge.
Nothing has been said as to whether people on Housing Benefit will be hit by extra reduction in their income by these charges or whether the extra charges will be covered by their Housing Benefit. The Tories only said that the extra charges MAY BE covered by a claimant’s benefit when the charges were first proposed. I’m betting that they won’t be.