Forum for residents of St Georges Park and Long Leys Road Lincoln

[Mikey]

Does anyone know anything about council tax banding or has anyone challenged it in the past.

When we received our council tax bills the other day I ended up speaking to my next door but one neighbour. It appears that despite both of our properties being Band B, both being 3 bedrooms, same postcode, and both having a similar set up and land, I pay almost £30 more per month than they do. Is that normal? I just assumed that everyone in the whole City paid the same as everyone else in the same band (obviously excluding people with different entitlements and exemptions).

Any advice please?

[deb]

You are right Mikey, all Band B would be the same amount wherever you were within the boundary. There are heaps of exclusions though - students are zero (any student, it's not an age thing) a single person household would get a 25% discount, many older people get discounts and of course there are council tax rebates for lower income households. All these could reduce the total. The £30 figure you quote is a possible 25% reduction for a single adult or single adult with exempt people living in the house with them. 25% of a band B over 10 months is £28.80.

Also you can request to pay over 12 months rather than 10. There's no pleading required, they just do it! That wouldn't make the difference on its own though, that'd only be approximately £19 a month less.

If you think there is a fiddle going on, two people living there for example, you can always tell the appropriate people. It's fraud. If it's you not claiming your discounts tell the council and I am sure they would consider backdating it. The register of electors could give a time frame.

[Mikey]

Thanks for your help deb.

I've emailed the council today about it and they are looking a bit more into I think so hopefully will hear the reason why soon.

[SteveW]

Don't accept the rate and just pay up. Several years ago our next door neighbour moved to the three storey house on the junction of Carram & Long Leys. Their band went from D to F in one foul swoop. They objected, arranged for someone from the council to visit and agreed on the spot to meet half way at Band E.

Furthermore I think everyone on this estate should be entitled to a discount with the un adoption and lack of facilities we have had to put up with in the last 8 or so years. So far we've had inferior unfinished roads, minimal landscaping, a beauty salon, a village green with a secondhand stone cross, a second hand bench, a lost pot of money for upgrading steps, but enough dog bins for every dog on the estate and smoke filled houses from inconsiderate allotment holders, bloody good value I'd say.

[Jeff]

Before the urban village built residents formed an action group to oppose the new housing development. We had several public meetings with City Hall at the Social Education Centre. Officers gave their presentations and did they take on board what residents said? No! A few years later, we were informed unofficially that the SEC building was to be closed. Thanks to our informer, she was right! It is still shut and derelict. What will the land and building be used for you may ask? Extra houses is my assumption!
These situations brought local people together. But over the years, a number of home owners sold up and left. Why? Because we were let down and were told that there would be community facilities. All that we have been given is a cemetery due to be built next month and that is for other people to use. Our local West Common is under threat. Long Leys Road is now used as a rat run by Burton Waters and Saxilby, etc.
I and other locals could have told " we told you so" but not many people are listening who have moved into the urban village. They are not bothered about anything except themselves.
So if people are that not bothered about the adoption of St Georges Park, then it is there own fault why it is not. Ah yes! They like blaming the residents association. So get off your backsides and do something about it. Don't blame others. Ah yes! Residents on Mitchell Drive were told that their 4 bedroom properties were Band E. They did something about it for it turned out to the Band D the same as our 4 bedroom properties which were built beforehand. So do something about the situation and stop grumbling.

[deb]

They are not bothered about anything except themselves.

Bit harsh Jeff, many are not bothered full stop and they don't have to be. Plenty of people are happy about where they live. The council don't adopt until they are happy with the builders so it does not cost them. Wilsons and Persimmon will keep cutting the grass here until the council are happy that everything is up to standard and I suspect it will not be cut as often when the council take over and will doubtless have long months of scruffiness. But it has all been agreed (I wasn't happy with it all but have stopped making a fuss because it won't be that bad and it needs finishing). As for council tax there are plenty of properties to compare to and Steve has shown that it needn't be an arduous confrontation. Lack of facilities? No one could MAKE a shop take the lease and the plans (doctor/dentist etc) were always a 'planning brief' , a concept that never happened but wrapped as if it may. Housing at the SEC? Maybe but just as maybe housing with facilities. Housing/facilities elsewhere? It is still possible, the SEC's not the only unused land that's likely to be around here in the next decade.

Just as a question though? What were the main objections to the Mitchell and Carram estates and in your view has there been anything good come from them?