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Campaign for Change 3: Investing in Social Capital - by James Evans
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As part of his third political reform, James Evand argues for a reduction in Council Tax for those undertaking voluntary work in their local borough.
We should encourage people to contribute positively to their area by creating a reward system: • Offer people who do socially beneficial voluntary work within their home borough a proportionate reduction in their Council Tax bill. Reasons for the proposal: On 14/1/07, Tory leader David Cameron gave an interview for the ‘Sunday AM’ BBC television programme. He explained that, if they came to power, his party would bring about a ‘revolution in responsibility’. He would relax central targets, budgets and controls over public services, giving local managers room for initiative and manoeuvre. He is certain that this would be far more effective than the restrictive ‘state control’ enforced by New Labour. People’s sense of government unfairness, however, is strongest in the context of local taxes and services. Concerns about the inadequacy of local services coincide with steeply rising council tax charges. Especially in the South East, these increases appear to be happening in spite of rising government revenue from businesses and individuals. The Conservative leader recently showed his support for a possible change to the council tax system. On 23rd October 2006, he championed a pilot scheme proposed by the Tories on Kirklees Council to redistribute council tax payments, protecting the elderly from soaring bills. But the Kirklees idea helps only one section of the population. It does not offer any clear support to working taxpayers who would presumably bear increased costs. To reduce the unfairness of the Council Tax burden whilst encouraging social responsibility, we should incentivise supportive behaviour. The proposed reform does this by offering those who invest their time beneficially as volunteers in their local area, a proportional rebate on their Council Tax. Qualifying voluntary work could be helping children with their reading at a local school, it could be ‘buddying’ a rehabilitating criminal, it could be amateur refereeing. Any voter would be able to participate. Because many of our most active volunteers are retired, the results from this initiative could benefit them in a similar way to the Kirklees scheme. It would enable them to remain active and visible in the community, instead of becoming fearful and isolated. This scheme would be fairer than the Kirklees one because every Council Tax payer would be able to benefit. It would also promote a ‘revolution in responsibility’: it would encourage positive social activity in the community; it would create a network of positive role models and supportive carers for the vulnerable; it would bring communities closer together. This article is written by James Evans and may not be reproduced in any way, shape or form without the author's prior consent. 17/01/07 |
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