Christchurch residents' council tax bill 'completely unfair and unjust'

A CHRISTCHURCH councillor has challenged the new Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole shadow authority over the legality of charging residents of the town more council tax than their neighbours.

Cllr Colin Jamieson has claimed the BCP does not have the right to levy the extra amount, but the authority says it is doing so under a process of “harmonisation”.

This will see Christchurch residents pay more council tax for the next six years until all bills are equalised.

“My view of harmonisation is that there is no harmony and no agreement,” said Cllr Jamieson. “It is completely unfair and unjust that Christchurch residents are being expected to pay more than anyone else.”

Last week, it was formally approved at a meeting of the BCP shadow authority that once it takes over in April, an average Band D property in Bournemouth will pay £1,473.40, Christchurch £1,598.30 and Poole £1,441.53. It has set a budget for its first year in charge at £735m.

At the same meeting, Cllr Jamieson backed an amendment put forward by Christchurch Independent Cllr Paul Hilliard that all residents should start paying the same amount of council tax from day one.

“That has been Christchurch council’s view from the beginning,” said Cllr Jamieson. “But the BCP are refusing to do this.

“I asked under what law they are basing their decision on. Just because the government says you can do something does not make it lawful.

“People are very upset that they are being expected to pay more for such a long time.

“It does not make sense that one single authority is setting three different council taxes.”

Cllr Jamieson said he had been “assured” by the leader of Bournemouth Council, John Beesley, that the decision was lawful.

According to the BCP shadow authority, under part 4 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 an authority “undergoing restructuring” is allowed to calculate different basic amounts of council tax for its predecessor areas for up to seven years as part of a process of equalisation

Cllr Hilliard said the plan to tax Christchurch residents more was “completely wrong”, even if BCP was acting legally. “Everyone should be treated the same,” he said.

“That is what has happened in every other case in the country where a unitary authority has been set up.”

Dorset Council, which will cover the rest of the county, has announced that all bills have been harmonised, meaning Band D properties across the five districts will all pay £1,629.75.

Cllr Hilliard said he had calculated that if his proposal was adopted it would mean Bournemouth residents in Band D properties would pay an extra 30p a week, while Poole residents would see a rise of 91p.

“That would also bring in an extra £1.4m surplus in revenue,” he said. “I believe that Bournemouth and Poole councillors are protecting their own interests by refusing to make everyone equal payers.

“It looks good on the election front to say you have one of the lowest council taxes, but to maintain that, services have to suffer.”

A spokesperson for the BCP shadow authority said: "The recommended budget sets out that council tax will be the same for all residents of BCP in 2025/26.

"In order to achieve this, Bournemouth and Borough of Poole rates will rise over the next three years. Council tax harm