Revaluation backlog could last four decades

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 27th Jun 2005

Forty years - that's how long it will take to clear the backlog of council tax valuation appeals at the present rate of progress, according to figures uncovered by Welsh Liberal Democrats.

Some 6,618 households in Wales are appealing against the re-valuation of their home, which is used to calculate their council tax band from this April. While the Labour government in Wales pressed ahead with revaluation, England has yet to follow suit.

Mike German, Assembly leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: "The council tax is already unpopular, but this blockage in the appeal system is not going to make it any more popular. More than 6,000 families are appealing against a rise in their council tax - but only 28 have been resolved in the first two months.

"At this rate, it will take more than 39 years to clear the backlog!

"People increasingly resent the council tax, and fail to see the link between spiralling bills and the services they receive. More and more people support a switch to a local income tax - a fairer tax based on ability to pay, not the value of the building in which you happen to live. LIT also has the benefit of being easier to collect, and doesn't need painful revaluation every few years."

Welsh Liberal Democrats want to axe the council tax and replace it with a local income tax. Mr German has written to the minister for local government and public services Sue Essex to ask what action she is taking to clear the backlog.

Notes:

According to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) the number of formal appeals received against the new council tax list following revaluation is a total of 6,618. 4,363 of these were received in April and 2,255 in May.

28 appeals have been settled up to the 31 May 2005. Of those, 27 appeals were withdrawn and 1 has resulted in a reduction.