THE Chancellor will unveil the Autumn budget at the end of November.

It’s not going to be easy but I can’t believe she’ll increase taxes on work again but who knows.

The continued freeze on personal allowances means taxes on working people are going up in real terms anyway whatever they say.

Then in December the Fair Funding Review and financial settlement for local councils will be announced.

The picture for Devon is not looking great and on top of this we’ll have to fund the wretched Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

Costs for this are now estimated to run into the tens of millions, all funded by local council taxpayers; (complete waste of time and money.)

They tell us austerity is over but they’re doing a damn good impersonation.

LOSS OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING

Last year, at the 11th hour, government withdrew the Rural Services Delivery grant.

That cost the county council about £10 million and the districts a further £4 million between them.

The grant was repurposed and redistributed. Devon got a great fat zero from this repurposing.

I know we’re incredibly lucky to live in such a beautiful county, but services cost more to deliver in rural areas.

Just look at our school transport bill. If government fails to recognise this extra cost it will, as per usual, be the most vulnerable who suffer the most.

There are pockets of deprivation hidden amongst the scenic beauty.

Lack of opportunity, often linked to poor transport, means we have some of the lowest levels of social mobility in the country.

COUNCIL TAX IS REGRESSIVE

Central government will claim, as they always do, that our core funding is increasing.

Last year, in Devon, the increase was due entirely to the increase in council tax.

It’s presented as if the extra funds are due to the Treasury largesse when in truth it’s paid for by local council taxpayers.

They take the credit for the extra money and then blame the local council for putting up the tax. I think it’s dishonest, it’s certainly a sleight of hand. Council tax is also regressive and unequal across the country.

Those fortunate to live in multi-million-pound mansions in Westminster pay about half as much council tax as those living in modest houses in Devon. That’s not fair and it’s not right.

HONEST DEBATE ON TAXATION

We’ll almost certainly put up council tax by the maximum 5% we're allowed. Don’t want to but we’ve got no choice.

It’s the same across the country including the new Reform run councils.

They had promised to slash local government spending and with it, council tax.

Latest reports are, they’ll be following the rest of us with these unwelcome rises.

Some of their national leaders are still thrashing around talking nonsense about mass inefficiencies and unrealisable savings.

Meanwhile, for those actually doing the job, reality is dawning that after years of austerity there is very little fat on the bone.

Of course, there are some efficiencies to be found and new ways of doing things, but without a radical overhaul of local government funding we’ll struggle to keep our heads above water.

It’s the same for all of our public services including the NHS. If we want the services, and I’m pretty sure most of us do, we’ve got to pay for them with taxes.

There needs to be a debate around the taxation regime required. People will have their own preferences, but I struggle to accept a system which means the less well off are paying more as a proportion of their income and wealth than those more fortunate.

Others might disagree but we need to have this debate.

Councillor Julian Brazil

Leader, Devon County Council