I recently read the Basingstoke Gazette article on the council tax system and its impact on Basingstoke and Deane 'Calls for council tax reform as Basingstoke residents lose out.' 

While I appreciate the insights, I noticed a discrepancy regarding the claim that residents in Basingstoke are losing out. The IFS report actually indicates that properties in the South, including areas like Basingstoke, tend to pay less council tax relative to their property values compared to the North and Midlands. This is due to the outdated valuations based on 1991 property values, which have disproportionately advantaged the South.

For a more accurate representation, it would be beneficial to highlight how the current system undervalues properties in the South, leading to lower council tax payments compared to their actual worth.

The IFS report itself states:

Revaluing council tax and adjusting funding for councils appropriately alongside this would mean falls in average bills across most of the North and Midlands, and increases in average bills in London and nearby areas.

Cllr David McIntyre

Representing Sherborne St John and Rooksdown Ward - including Charter Alley, Monk Sherborne, Marnel Park, Merton Rise, Ramsdell, Rooksdown, Sherborne Fields, Sherborne St John and West Heath

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