Ignore motion on VAT rise, officers advise council
THE proposed rise in VAT will have a damaging and lasting effect on tourism in Devon, a county councillor has claimed.
Cllr Saxon Spence, who represents Pinhoe, has asked for a motion to be put before Devon County Council's executive next week which urged the authority to object in the strongest terms to the rise from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent.
She said: "It will fall hardest on those least able to afford it.
"It will lead to higher prices for goods and services; will have a disproportionate impact on pensioners and other low income groups; and will have a severe impact on businesses, charities and community groups in Devon.
"I think we should resolve to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer raising concerns about the impact of the proposed VAT increase on pensioners, other vulnerable groups and businesses in Devon in particular the very serious impact on the tourist trade.
"It should also call on the Members of Parliament representing Devon to support the county's pensioners, businesses and wider community by voicing their opposition to this unfair increase in VAT and other reductions in benefits, such as housing benefit, which will impact most on Devon's poorest residents."
But council officers have recommended that the motion be ignored.
In a note to councillors ahead of the meeting taking place next Wednesday, officers recommend: "The county council should take no action and endorse the view that it is not prepared to criticise the Coalition Government."
Comments
by Helen, Exeter
Monday, September 06 2010, 7:57PM
“If you voted in the GE for any of the 3 old parties then youu have only yourself to blame for these rises in taxation. The 3 old parties are committed to the European project, which wastes money in ever increasing amounts and at an faster rate than our own government. £6.4bn of YOUR money will be wasted and in return YOUR government will cut YOUR services. Not only that, the cost to UK businesses due to over bureaucratic regulations from Brussels cost many more Billions, a cost you can be assured is being passed onto you. We can still trade with European countries without being in an expensive club that has no benefits, Norway, Switzerland, Croatia, and Iceland seem to do it well enough. The EU has been and will be an ever increasing drain on the UKs wealth. It is something we neither need nor can afford. Remeber when you see cuts in services and rises in taxation, blame the 3 old parties and their dogged persistance of membership of the EU. Vote UKIP and return the UK to independent governance.”