GMB call on Newham Council to rule out axing free school meals and collect uncollected council tax/non-domestic rates
GMB call on Newham Council to rule out axing free school meals in upcoming review and slams Council for not collecting nearly £9m in council tax/non-domestic rates over last two years
It is well established that hungry children don't learn, and we are calling on the Council to protect the interests of the children of Newham, says GMB London
GMB is calling on Newham Council to pledge that they do not get rid of their free school meals program, following a recommendation to review how ‘financially sustainable’ a new scheme would be in the Council’s ‘Mid-Year Review of the 2018/19 Budget and Overall Financial Position to 2022/23’. [See notes to editors for link to Newham Council’s Mid-Year Review of the 2018/19 Budget]
Instead, GMB have questioned whether Newham Council should instead look at collecting the £8,577,000 in uncollected council tax and non-domestic rates between 2016 and 2018.
A study by the GMB found that between 2016 and March 31 2017 uncollected council tax amounted to £3,347,000. Between 2017 and March 31 2018 the uncollected amount was £3,688,000.
The study also found that between 2016 and March 31 2017, for non-domestic the uncollected figure amounts to £346,000. Between 2017 and March 31 2018, the uncollected, figure was £1,196,000. The full details are in the table set out below.
The tables below show the amount of council tax and non-domestic rates that were collected and that figure as a percentage of amount collectable, as well as amount not collected between 2016-2017 and 2017-2018.
|
Council Tax |
||||||
|
2016-17 |
2017-18 |
|||||
|
Estimate of amount collectable in the year* |
Amount collected by 31 March 2017 |
Amount collected by 31 March 2017 as a % of amount collectable |
Estimate of amount collectable in the year* |
Amount collected by 31 March 2018 |
Amount collected by 31 March 2018 as a % of amount collectable |
|
|
Newham |
£90,614,000 |
£87,267,000 |
96.3 |
£95,189,000 |
£91,501,000 |
96.1 |
|
Not collected in the year |
£3,347,000 |
£3,688,000 |
||||
|
* Also known as the Net Collectable Debit |
||||||
|
Non-Domestic Rates |
|||||
|
2016-17 |
2017-18 |
||||
|
Estimate of amount collectable in the year* |
Amount collected by 31 March 2017 |
Amount collected by 31 March 2017 as a % of amount collectable |
Estimate of amount collectable in the year* |
Amount collected by 31 March 2018 |
Amount collected by 31 March 2018 as a % of amount collectable |
|
£134,552,000 |
£134,206,000 |
99.7 |
£146,639,000 |
£145,443,000 |
99.2 |
|
£346,000 |
£1,196,000 |
||||
Gordon White, GMB Regional Officer said:
“We know that the Tory cuts are pushing our councils to breaking point, however the council’s mid-year budget paper makes very worrying reading.
“The focus is on cuts and tax rises without addressing chasing existing owed monies. I call upon the Mayor to ensure she honours her pledges to support the children of Newham and improve the provision for young people. I cannot see how attacking free school meals or the opportunities offered to children will help this.
“GMB are calling on Newham Council to rule out axing free school meals in any review. In addition, before the council review the financial sustainability of any new free school meals scheme, they need to first look at the financial sustainability of not collecting almost £9 million in uncollected council tax and non-domestic rates.
“It is well established that hungry children don't learn, and I am calling on the Council to protect the interests of the children of Newham.”
ENDS
Contact: Gordon White 020 8457 4137 or GMB London Press Office 07970 114 762
Notes to Editors
Newham Council - ‘Mid-Year Review of the 2018/19 Budget and Overall Financial Position to 2022/23’ (15 Oct 2018)
