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ARTICLE SUMMARY

Council tax hikes 'fund pensions'

Hikes in council tax are being sucked up by the soaring bill for workers' "gold-plated" pensions, a report has claimed.

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JONOCYNIC9 - ENJOY YOUR PENSION

29.02.08, 9:07pm

jonocynic9 - obviously you're one of the jobsworths, so it's all lost on you.
You must be aware that the majority, who fund your pension, hold you in contempt not unlike that contempt in which the government holds us. By 'us' I mean the private sector, taxpayer who fund all the politicians, and the useless, unproductive, public sector

• Posted by: BoggyDepotReport Comment

THEY SHOULD NOT BE TOO COMPLACENT

29.02.08, 6:28pm

Someone might have the idea to snatch them away as has been done to others, why should people who can hardly afford to pay for their own pension schemes have to subsidise those who should be doing the same

• Posted by: MaggieReport Comment

THE ONLY WAY.

29.02.08, 1:10pm

It is now broadly accepted those in the Public Sector are on a far better across the board heaven sent pension deal than their patrons in the private sector. This is entirely because funding comes from private sector funding through pernicious taxation.

There are those who in this forum who persist in stating public sector pensioners are not as well to do as we are led to believe.
If this is the case, protest from the hard done by former loyal public servant is indeed muted.

The only way to clarify the matter beyond reasonable doubt is for every alleged hard done by CS pensioner to declare publicly how difficult it is to survive on the state handouts the private sector has given to them.
Alas I feel this obvious solution will be swamped by protests of humiliation and all sorts of references to the Data Protection Act, another heavenly gift for the civil servant to hide behind.

• Posted by: kojakReport Comment

THE AMOUNT OF MONEY...

29.02.08, 11:54am

In reply to BoggyDepot. Whether the money comes from Council Tax or direct/indirect taxation a public sector pension and a state pension both get funded by tax payers. My point was that the average civil service pension last year was probably less than the state pension and would have to be made up with benefits. The average civil servant earns less than £20K in a climate where we are told that the average salary is £26K. If the Govt. would like to pay me at least £6K more than I earn now, I'll pay for my own private pension.

• Posted by: jonocynic9Report Comment

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COUNCIL TAX THEFT

29.02.08, 10:23am

onocynic9 - the amounts aren't really the issue. It's the fact that brown has stolen Joe Publics' pensions, in fact the majority, probably, cannot even afford a private pension. But still, public sector workers have theirs guaranteed, at taxpayers' expense

Nalin - I think Joe Public is well aware that everyone, from government, to utilities, to big business, are ripping them off. The real question is, why do we sit back and take it?!

• Posted by: BoggyDepotReport Comment

GOLD PLATED PENSIONS

29.02.08, 10:00am

Lets have some figures then!!!

How much do these people get when they retire?

Last year the average civil servant pension was around about £4.7K, hardly a Kings ransom is it?

How about doing a bit of honest reporting, less sensationalism, a few FACTS might be helpful instead of glib inflammatory statements.

• Posted by: jonocynic9Report Comment

UNSUSTAINABLE PENSIONS GREED

29.02.08, 9:59am

Councils have never been know for being frugal, but it's the lack of accountability that has been the main problem. These pensions are unsustainable and immoral in the current financial climate. Retiring at 60 when the rest of the population is being asked to work on until 67 or 68 should not be an option.

• Posted by: Karl2Report Comment

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JAIL FOR COUNCIL TAX PROTESTERS!

29.02.08, 9:48am

"Overall, spending on local government pensions rose 13% last year to hit £4.6 billion, according to figures obtained by campaigning group the TaxPayers' Alliance."

Now we know why old pensioners are jailed for council tax protests.

The people involved in getting this gold plated pension have their own interest at heart and would go to any length to protect this.

A "legalised" illegal civil debt is now considered as a criminal one and the central government has now given draconian powers to the local councils.

When will the public ever realise that they are being taken for a ride?

• Posted by: NalinReport Comment

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