Greens call for ‘developers’ duty’ to replace council tax

3 March 2018

* Greens call for immediate review into radical overhaul of tax with a view to implement a ‘developers’ duty’ within five years

* Green Party co-leaders to make call in speech to Spring Conference in Bournemouth at 2pm on Saturday 3 March 2018

* Jonathan Bartley: “Council tax is regressive and it’s the past”

The Green Party has called for a radical overhaul of tax which would see council tax and business rates scrapped and replaced instead with a new land value tax or 'developers’ duty', to ensure the richest in society pay their fair share.

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, will make the call in his speech [1] to Spring Conference today (2pm, Saturday 3 March) [2], when he will call on the Government to start an immediate review into a developers’ duty, with the view to start implementing a new tax system in five years’ time.

In his speech Bartley will point out how the current system rewards wealthy land and home owner.

Bartley is expected to say:

“Last year the most expensive house in the country sold for just shy of a massive £16 million. The cheapest went for £18,500. Yet the difference between what those two new homeowner’s pay in council tax is just £250.” [3]

The current out of date council tax system is based on the value properties had in 1991, with many costs bypassing owners of rented properties to be paid by tenants.

Instead, the developers’ duty would tax the value of land. Under this scheme rocketing land value due to changes in the area, such as new transport links, would be captured and put back into the local community.

Different types of land value capture have been explored across the world, including in Denmark where landowners pay 1% tax of the value of their property for the first DKK3.04m (£343,000) of its value, and 3% after that [4].

Bartley is expected to say:

“Council tax is regressive and it’s the past. Together with business rates and stamp duty, it needs scrapping, in favour of a developers’ duty that captures the value of land not property.

“It’s time to create an economy that serves us and not the other way round. A chance to determine whether the economy liberates or enslaves us.”

Notes:

1. Full speech available at 2pm: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/

2. Green Party Spring Conference
The Green Party Spring Conference will see members from across the country come together to hear from the party’s leaders, vote on policy and take part in discussion and debate on topics from Brexit to climate change.
Leaders’ speech by Jonathan Bartley and Caroline Lucas: Saturday 3 March, 2pm

3. https://www.citymetric.com/politics/uk-needs-rethink-its-local-taxes-it-s-time-land-value-tax-3604

4. https://www.ft.com/content/392c33a6-211f-11e3-8aff-00144feab7de

Greens call for ‘developers’ duty’ to replace council tax

 

* Greens call for immediate review into radical overhaul of tax with a view to implement a ‘developers’ duty’ within five years

* Green Party co-leaders to make call in speech to Spring Conference in Bournemouth at 2pm on Saturday 3 March 2018

* Jonathan Bartley: “Council tax is regressive and it’s the past”

 

The Green Party has called for a radical overhaul of tax which would see council tax and business rates scrapped and replaced instead with a new land value tax or 'developers’ duty', to ensure the richest in society pay their fair share.

 

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, will make the call in his speech [1] to Spring Conference today (2pm, Saturday 3 March) [2], when he will call on the Government to start an immediate review into a developers’ duty, with the view to start implementing a new tax system in five years’ time.

 

In his speech Bartley will point out how the current system rewards wealthy land and home owner.

 

Bartley is expected to say:

 

“Last year the most expensive house in the country sold for just shy of a massive £16 million. The cheapest went for £18,500. Yet

the difference between what those two new homeowner’s pay in council tax is just £250.” [3]

 

The current out of date council tax system is based on the value properties had in 1991, with many costs bypassing owners of rented properties to be paid by tenants.

 

Instead, the developers’ duty would tax the value of land. Under this scheme rocketing land value due to changes in the area, such as new transport links, would be captured and put back into the local community.

 

Different types of land value capture have been explored across the world, including in Denmark where landowners pay 1% tax of the value of their property for the first DKK3.04m (£343,000) of its value, and 3% after that [4].

 

Bartley is expected to say:

 

“Council tax is regressive and it’s the past. Together with business rates and stamp duty, it needs scrapping, in favour of a developers’ duty that captures the value of land not property.

 

“It’s time to create an economy that serves us and not the other way round. A chance to determine whether the economy liberates or enslaves us.”

 

ENDS.

 

For more information contact: press@greenpary.org.uk / 0203 691 9401

 

Notes:

 

1. Full speech available at 2pm: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/

 

2. Green Party Spring Conference

The Green Party Spring Conference will see members from across the country come together to hear from the party’s leaders, vote on policy and take part in discussion and debate on topics from Brexit to climate change.

 

3.https://www.citymetric.com/politics/uk-needs-rethink-its-local-taxes-it-s-time-land-value-tax-3604

 

4.https://www.ft.com/content/392c33a6-211f-11e3-8aff-00144feab7de

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