Non-voting shares
Sir: I refer to the leading article in last week's issue on the subject of local government, the content of which I found to be excellent. I would, however, like to expand on one aspect which was referred to all too briefly — the total lack of representation of a large section of ratepayers. I refer of course to the business community who pay 67 per cent of the rates levied in the Greater London Council area.
There used to be a dictum in common use in this country to the effect that there should be no taxation without representation. But as far as local government is concerned this appears to have been abandoned in the Fifties with the abolition of the business vote. As a consequence the very ratepayers who could be expected to be most concerned to see that rates are kept within bounds and that local government spend their money wisely and without waste are denied any voice in the conduct of local government While this situation continues to exist it,is perhaps hardly surprising that local councils are largely concerned with providing services to the local residents — no matter how wastefully, nor whether those services are either necessary or desirable — and that there is total apathy towards local government elections. The voters are well aware that not only will a very large portion of the costs of local government be defrayed by the central government but a very considerable percentage of the funds raised locally will be provided by that much maligned section, the business community, who have been totally disenfranchised. ,
D. L. Lux 37 Shearman Road, Blackheath, London SE3
Previous page
