The fightback continues.....

.....with West Oxfordshire District Council over my withholding a small amount of Council Tax, a subject on which I posted previously.


On Friday the following exchange took place:

"3 February 2012 15:07, Kelly Parry wrote:
Dear Mr Phipps,
Thank you for your e-mail dated 23 January 2012 in reference to the overdue balance letter you have received.
I refer to past e-mails sent by Mandy Fathers where it was explained that as a Local Authority, West Oxfordshire District Council have a duty to ensure all local taxation is collected in full and whilst we appreciate your concerns regarding the local services provided we do not find it acceptable that you make deductions from the amount of Council Tax to be paid. I would remind you that an amount of £10.00 is outstanding on your account and if this is not paid further recovery action is likely to occur.
Kind regards,

 3 February 2012 15:13
Dear Ms. Parry,
Thank you for your email of today.
West Oxfordshire District Council may well have a duty to ensure all local taxation is collected - they also have a duty to ensure that all local services, for which they are responsible, are delivered.
While your concerns are appreciated, I do not find it acceptable that I should be forced to pay for a service that has not been delivered.
Kind regards"

It will be with regret (not) that I shall be emailing this lady again to advise that the food bin, which should have been collected on Thursday and which, following a telephone call late Thursday, was promised for collection by 17:30 Friday, was not. As any Council Tax is now not due to be paid until April, the sum of £5.00 will be deducted from that first payment; whilst politely pointing out that I am doing my best to make it worthwhile for them to take me to court. 


Updates as and when...........


Afterthought: Anyway it would appear that rubbish collection is free, according to a former minister for climate change, biodiversity and waste.

Ugly Food

The Daily Telegraph reports that Laura Sandys, MP for Thanet South has called for mis-shapen fruit and vegetables to be specially promoted and sold in supermarkets. She is quoted as saying that a culture change, when it comes to our food, is necessary as it is rising in price to the detriment of families and that a re-evaluation of everything we grow is required.


Bearing in mind the culinary delights she no doubt samples when attending Westminster, it also seems Ms. Sandys is another of our MPs who believe that more government is the answer, which obviously compliments her belief that we need more EU integration.


On that basis perhaps it should be pointed out to Ms. Sandys that, more importantly, what is needed is a culture change when it comes to our politicians who, to the detriment of the people, are costing us more and that yes, most definitely a re-evaluation of those we elect, before we elect them, is also required as part of the process.