Please sign and share this petition all over the country to stop excessive council tax increases by asking for a public inquiry into Bridgwater Town Council’s manipulation of the principles provided in the report to the House of Commons* to increase the precept by 39% to purportedly cover services passed from Somerset Council with no corresponding reduction in Council Tax; the outcome of which will provide spending and Council Tax reforms for every local authority and resident in England.

FYI, signing is free. Please check your email to confirm your signature.
Thanks in advance.

https://chng.it/2W9LLv6YtJ

 *The Referendums Relating to Council Tax Increases (Principles) (England) Report 2024-25, Presented to the House of Commons pursuant to section 52ZD(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as inserted by Schedule 5 to the Localism Act 2011.

Taxpayers in Bridgwater (I have also heard Burnham & Highbridge Town Council have voted an increase as well) are being unfairly burdened by a system that forces them to pay multiple times for the same devolved services. Despite the transfer of responsibilities from Somerset Council to Bridgwater Town Council (BTC), there has been no reduction in Council Tax (CT) bills. Instead, BTC is proposing to increase its precept to cover the costs of these services.

This is akin to switching broadband providers but still being charged by your previous supplier. It’s an unjust and inefficient system that leaves taxpayers footing the bill twice.

To make matters worse, when the area is devolved a third time to the Wessex Mayoral Strategic Authority, residents will face yet another CT increase. This means taxpayers will end up paying three different organisations for the same services—without any reduction in their original charges.

This system is fundamentally flawed and unsustainable. Unless there is a corresponding reduction in CT bills, this situation amounts to a significant misuse of public funds and a breach of trust in how taxpayers’ money is managed.

We are calling for:

 1. A full public inquiry into this issue to ensure transparency and accountability in local financial management.

 2. A debate in Parliament to address this systemic problem and prevent taxpayers from being unfairly charged.

This inquiry is in the public interest, especially given the broader concerns about local authorities’ inability to effectively manage and balance public finances. It’s time to demand accountability and ensure that taxpayers are not paying multiple times for the same services.

Sign this petition to call for immediate action and protect the fairness and integrity of our tax system.

Please see link below to read #BridgwaterMercury report on Bridgwater Town Council’s 39% increase in precept for the services Somerset Council devolved to them in the absence of a corresponding council tax reduction by Somerset Council to residents for the same services.

https://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/24880767.bridgwater-council-tax-will-rise-39-bridgwater-2025/