Specials v Council Tax

[hamster]

Just read my Council tax info booklet and it says that Special Constables are exempt! No disrespect, but why is this? Who else is exempt and agin, why?

 

I can think of others I'd put ahead of them but ultimately I believe that only those who CAN'T pay should be exempt.

 

Maybe I'm missing something but just can't see it.

[Yeovil Saint]

Just read my Council tax info booklet and it says that Special Constables are exempt! No disrespect, but why is this? Who else is exempt and agin, why?

 

I can think of others I'd put ahead of them but ultimately I believe that only those who CAN'T pay should be exempt.

 

Maybe I'm missing something but just can't see it.

 

That's only in Southampton though, don't think it's anywhere else.

[hamster]

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That makes it worse imo, we're ALL in this recession, this is no time for favours to anyone.

[hamster]

That's only in Southampton though, don't think it's anywhere else.

 

And a proportion of the CT is paid to Hants County Council. Does this mean that Southampton residents are actually paying their share of the HCC responsibilty too? Today was the first I heard of this but a sI say, I may have missed something.

[scott_saints]

[Um Bongo]

Just read my Council tax info booklet and it says that Special Constables are exempt! No disrespect, but why is this? Who else is exempt and agin, why?

 

I can think of others I'd put ahead of them but ultimately I believe that only those who CAN'T pay should be exempt.

 

Maybe I'm missing something but just can't see it.

 

It's the council's decison to get more specials working in Southampton. The police wern't too happy with bringing it in, but the Council voted in favour of doing it. You have to live + work in Southampton to qualify.

[hamster]

.............

[hamster]

/\

This is serious **** man, no wonder this town is coming like as ghost-town.

[Yeovil Saint]

And a proportion of the CT is paid to Hants County Council. Does this mean that Southampton residents are actually paying their share of the HCC responsibilty too? Today was the first I heard of this but a sI say, I may have missed something.

Southampton's a unitary authority so nothing should go to Hampshire CC anymore, they do have to give some to Hampshire Police and Hampshire Fire so they just have to increase the take from everyone else to pay for the 100% rebate for Specials and the 10% rebate for pensioners.

[hamster]

Do regular PC's (and other grades) qualify too?

 

I know we've got some serving and ex force types on here, do you think it is justifiable, seriously.

 

NB

I had an off(ish) day at work hence, it is either the specials or the Pug who are going to get it tonight and Boo is too cute to kick.

[Thedelldays]

Do regular PC's (and other grades) qualify too?

 

I know we've got some serving and ex force types on here, do you think it is justifiable, seriously.

 

NB

I had an off(ish) day at work hence, it is either the specials or the Pug who are going to get it tonight and Boo is too cute to kick.

 

 

In the forces, we get council tax breaks....you get a pecentage off for the time you are serving away from the UK...but it is nothing really...

 

also, to top that up..if you live in barracks, you have to pay council tax in lieu (which is a small fee) regardless of the fact you pay CT at your home address.

 

in short, if you are away from the UK for 6 months, you get something like 2 months counil tax free when you work out your savings (or something very similar)...you have to claim for it when you get back..which again, turns out to be its own epic

[hamster]

Anyone know just how many specials we have in Soton? I shouldnlt think it's that many, but it's anything from £964 to £2,893 so not to be sniffed at.

 

I thought they worked for nought amd seriously feel that this should be viewd by HMRC as a perk and at the very least knocked off of their personal tax allowance.

 

To be frank, I think it stinks, unles someone can convince me otherwise.

[Redbul]

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This is serious **** man, no wonder this town is coming like as ghost-town.

 

All the clubs have been closed down.

[hamster]

To quote the leaflet:

 

"Special Constables give up their time to help make Southampton a safe place to live, work and visit. We want to kep Specials on our streets and recruit more. To help this we offer A 100% council tax doscount........"

 

What about people who give up their time to pick up the discarded KFC wrappers and discarded fag butts for the lowest wages that the council can get away with paying them? What about those council workers who wipe our elderly residents bot-bot's who are being told by that public sector workers need to lead the way out of recession by accepting pay freezes, and this on top of 'year on year' pay deals below inflation? Politicians, I sh1t 'em. Out of touch beyond belief.

[hamster]

All the clubs have been closed down.

 

All the best ones anyway. Can't say i miss all the fighting on the dancefloor to be honest, the scrapping used to **** up my timing tbh.

[RedAndWhite91]

I heard the person who organises the council tax is a Little B!tch. It's no surprise there are Gangsters hanging outside the Nite Klub in the Concrete Jungle that is Southampton with the way the council is being run. Too Much Too Young in a Stupid Marraige, paid for by your tax, which the special constables don't have to pay. At the end of the day it's an opinion and it's Up To You, but It Doesn't Make It Alright, and You're Wondering Now whether or not the special constables should be exempt.

 

I ****ing love The Specials.

[hamster]

/\

You sure that wasn't with a little help from Google?

 

Impresive all the same for one so young ;-)

 

Anyway, we shouldn;t just sit back and 'Do Nothing'

[scott_saints]

Is there any need to fit in all these song song titles ffs, I can't stand it. I suppose if this is what thrills you then, enjoy yourself. Makes me just view the thread with a blank expression though.

[Redbul]

Anyway, we shouldn;t just sit back and 'Do Nothing'

 

No, It Doesn't Make It Alright.

[Redbul]

Is there any need to fit in all these song song titles ffs, I can't stand it. I suppose if this is what thrills you then, enjoy yourself. Makes me just view the thread with a blank expression though.

 

Got it in in the end!!!!

[scott_saints]

Got it in in the end!!!!

There's another two in there mate

[RedAndWhite91]

/\

You sure that wasn't with a little help from Google?

 

Impresive all the same for one so young ;-)

 

Anyway, we shouldn;t just sit back and 'Do Nothing'

 

Nope! Their first album is one of my favourite albums of all time.

 

Back on topic, I don't think they should be let off their council tax.

[hamster]

Specials AKA Tax-Dodgers.

[chrisobee]

/\

You sure that wasn't with a little help from Google?

 

Impresive all the same for one so young ;-)

 

Anyway, we shouldn;t just sit back and 'Do Nothing'

 

Personally I can't stand it either ( sorry scott Saints but I missed your earlier reference!) , the people getting angry. Damn this Rat Race !!

As Pearl said whilst serving in her cafe " It's all a load of ******** and ******** to it all ! "

Very thoughtful of you to start a Specials thread, not had one for a while !!

Edited 10 March, 2010 by chrisobee

[sotonjoe]

TBF, my council tax is going to be £129 per month for the next year so these people can look forward to an additional benefit that is hardly huge.

 

We can't really judge without knowing the full details of how else they may be renumerated.

[Viking Warrior]

I can see the rest of the council employees making a claim for not paying CT.

treating one set of employees differently is a recipe for an equal pay claim disaster/comeon Lets be avin you!"

[INFLUENCED.COM]

TBF, my council tax is going to be £129 per month for the next year so these people can look forward to an additional benefit that is hardly huge.

 

We can't really judge without knowing the full details of how else they may be renumerated.

 

I agree, would also extend this to any volunteer workers who commit to a 'number' of hours per week providing a service to the community, there are many other tax breaks for those on low incomes etc.. these guys and many more that are not recognised should be given every incentive to offer up their services.

[Michelle]

Anyone know just how many specials we have in Soton?

 

I know one.

[Ponty]

Anyone know just how many specials we have in Soton? I shouldnlt think it's that many, but it's anything from £964 to £2,893 so not to be sniffed at.

 

I thought they worked for nought amd seriously feel that this should be viewd by HMRC as a perk and at the very least knocked off of their personal tax allowance.

 

To be frank, I think it stinks, unles someone can convince me otherwise.

Oh come off it, Hammy. They put themselves in risk of danger for the princely sum of f*** all. Getting out of paying their council tax is such a small perk when you consider that the same luxury is afforded to workshy doleys and benefit scroungers (oh, and the legitimately unemployed).

[The9]

And a proportion of the CT is paid to Hants County Council. Does this mean that Southampton residents are actually paying their share of the HCC responsibilty too? Today was the first I heard of this but as I say, I may have missed something.

 

At a guess, there is a significant exchange of services between the Southampton and HCC-run areas across a variety of services (eg Social Services, health care, etc) and there's some cross-funding tied up with that.

 

When I had my NHS knee op last year the Royal South Hants was one of the locations offered, but so were Winchester and Basingstoke. There must be similar service exchanges in other fields too.

[The9]

I know one.

 

Can we do the "speshul" joke please ?

[bridge too far]

At a guess, there is a significant exchange of services between the Southampton and HCC-run areas across a variety of services (eg Social Services, health care, etc) and there's some cross-funding tied up with that.

 

When I had my NHS knee op last year the Royal South Hants was one of the locations offered, but so were Winchester and Basingstoke. There must be similar service exchanges in other fields too.

 

This isn't a service exchange. Operations and treatments are commissioned by the health authority and they buy from a number of hospitals, including private ones.

 

Some services are now shared. For example, you may well find that Southampton Hospitals' payrolls are carried out by one provider (and probably a private company at that). I know that procurement in your region is carried out for a number of NHS trusts, including Portsmouth, Southampton and Winchester.

[sotonjoe]

Oh come off it, Hammy. They put themselves in risk of danger for the princely sum of f*** all. Getting out of paying their council tax is such a small perk when you consider that the same luxury is afforded to workshy doleys and benefit scroungers (oh, and the legitimately unemployed).

 

If that's true, then I thoroughly agree with you.

[hamster]

They get a free uniform which includes free boots (steel toe-capped)! ;-)

 

Now then, on a very serious note if they are receiving this 100% rebate on their CT then they have moved from doing it for free, to doing it for reward. Just doesn't make sense to me but i am willing to accept that I'm in the minority.

 

Someone mentioned the volunteer cestor. People volunteer their services for a number of reasons and I have not worked with a single one yet (I've worked with quite a few over the years) who has asked or expected a 'perk'. I remember a time a few years back when I had a 'discussion' with my then manager about letting our vollies have a free lunch, they only cost about £2 at cost price, but i thought it would be a nice gesture on our part. It was agreed that if a volunteer worked more than a certain number of hours they could have a free lunch. Guess what? Not one took up the offer and they carried on paying! My mistake for getting on my high horse, lesson learnt.

 

Anyway, I really do not believe that this CT break will encourage more pepople to sign up to the Specials and moreover don;lt think it should be offered.

[Ekelund24]

/\

You sure that wasn't with a little help from Google?

 

Impresive all the same for one so young ;-)

 

Anyway, we shouldn;t just sit back and 'Do Nothing'

 

These kids learn too much, too young

[Ponty]

They get a free uniform which includes free boots (steel toe-capped)! ;-)

 

Now then, on a very serious note if they are receiving this 100% rebate on their CT then they have moved from doing it for free, to doing it for reward. Just doesn't make sense to me but i am willing to accept that I'm in the minority.

 

Someone mentioned the volunteer cestor. People volunteer their services for a number of reasons and I have not worked with a single one yet (I've worked with quite a few over the years) who has asked or expected a 'perk'. I remember a time a few years back when I had a 'discussion' with my then manager about letting our vollies have a free lunch, they only cost about £2 at cost price, but i thought it would be a nice gesture on our part. It was agreed that if a volunteer worked more than a certain number of hours they could have a free lunch. Guess what? Not one took up the offer and they carried on paying! My mistake for getting on my high horse, lesson learnt.

 

Anyway, I really do not believe that this CT break will encourage more pepople to sign up to the Specials and moreover don;lt think it should be offered.

Mate, being a special is not comparable to selling chunky-knit sweaters in Oxfam or serving soup in polystyrene cups to the homeless. When a shoplifter comes steaming out of a shop and runs into a pair of Specials he doesn't take the time to thoroughly check their epaulettes for signs of their actual status, he just sends them flying. You don't get too much aggro in a Scope shop or a Sally Army canteen, I'll wager.

 

A grand or so a year is **** all of a price to pay to have a bit of extra presence on the streets. It should be a Nationwide initiative, IMO.

[hamster]

Mate, being a special is not comparable to selling chunky-knit sweaters in Oxfam or serving soup in polystyrene cups to the homeless. When a shoplifter comes steaming out of a shop and runs into a pair of Specials he doesn't take the time to thoroughly check their epaulettes for signs of their actual status, he just sends them flying. You don't get too much aggro in a Scope shop or a Sally Army canteen, I'll wager.

 

A grand or so a year is **** all of a price to pay to have a bit of extra presence on the streets. It should be a Nationwide initiative, IMO.

 

Not being provocative here honest Ponty, but are you a special yourself?

 

If what you say is true about the job being tough is true (I am certainly not disagreeing with you - I wouldnt do it mate) then will the tax break encourage more to join up? Also, from what I have seen they go around in two's so that doubles the cost.

 

At the end of the day have they requested this or is it just a council initiative, if so who's idea was it?

 

Also, whatever they are they are volunteers and once you start to reward a volunteer to this level they cease to become volunteers in my boook. It's a dangerous path to tread I reckon.

[Ponty]

Not being provocative here honest Ponty, but are you a special yourself?

 

If what you say is true about the job being tough is true (I am certainly not disagreeing with you - I wouldnt do it mate) then will the tax break encourage more to join up? Also, from what I have seen they go around in two's so that doubles the cost.

 

At the end of the day have they requested this or is it just a council initiative, if so who's idea was it?

 

Also, whatever they are they are volunteers and once you start to reward a volunteer to this level they cease to become volunteers in my boook. It's a dangerous path to tread I reckon.

 

No, I'm not, and I don't know any either. I just appreciate some sort of "Police" presence in the cities, especially in this age of declining numbers of Bobbies on the beat, and I wouldn't begrudge them that small benefit for doing the job. Seeing as the shortfall will cost the other 200 thousand odd Southampton citizens about a quid a year it seems such a small price.

[hamster]

No, I'm not, and I don't know any either. I just appreciate some sort of "Police" presence in the cities, especially in this age of declining numbers of Bobbies on the beat, and I wouldn't begrudge them that small benefit for doing the job. Seeing as the shortfall will cost the other 200 thousand odd Southampton citizens about a quid a year it seems such a small price.

 

I know exactly where you are coming from I really do Ponty. There is a danger here though, if we all get to nominate a 'deserving' cause for a bit of charity, and that is that the nominations would be endless. I for one could name a dozen deserving job/careers that I think should be rewarded more than they currently are.

 

For example and returning to the volunteer sector for one moment. I would like to see any volunteer who gives over 500 hours of their time to registered charities given free access to local public transport, not just to and from their place of work but a 100% gratis travel card 365 days a year.

 

I would also like to offer free local transport to under 18's, serioudly, I think it would ingrain in our young citizens the value of such systems and the more they are used the more indendent they would be as they reach adulthood, thus negating their parents apparent NEED to drive everywhere.

 

I have over the past couple of years had to call upon the services of our police force and on occasion worked with specials, I know how valuable their contribution to local communities is. I keep coming back to this question though, sorry - Why just them?

[Ponty]

I know exactly where you are coming from I really do Ponty. There is a danger here though, if we all get to nominate a 'deserving' cause for a bit of charity, and that is that the nominations would be endless. I for one could name a dozen deserving job/careers that I think should be rewarded more than they currently are.

 

For example and returning to the volunteer sector for one moment. I would like to see any volunteer who gives over 500 hours of their time to registered charities given free access to local public transport, not just to and from their place of work but a 100% gratis travel card 365 days a year.

 

I would also like to offer free local transport to under 18's, serioudly, I think it would ingrain in our young citizens the value of such systems and the more they are used the more indendent they would be as they reach adulthood, thus negating their parents apparent NEED to drive everywhere.

 

I have over the past couple of years had to call upon the services of our police force and on occasion worked with specials, I know how valuable their contribution to local communities is. I keep coming back to this question though, sorry - Why just them?

 

But, Hamster, why not them, at least as a starting point?

[hamster]

But, Hamster, why not them, at least as a starting point?

 

If you are serious and if you were doorstepping me, then you sir may just have earned yourself my vote.

 

I spent a few years fighting and standing up for the rights of the less well of and those who didn't have the confidence to argue their point. You know what, I got fed up with getting fed up in the end and I too eventually lowered my socialist trade unionist head below the parapet.

 

If we are going to start somewhere, then I wouldn;t argue against the 'specilas' I don;t however beleiev that this initiative is athe start of anything along the lines that you are suggesting. I think it's a cheap (your words) headline grabber but I disagree with it on principle. Their are more needy people in our midst that they could start with.