A Berkshire council has been accused of being “misleading” over the latest council tax charges.
Some residents have been left confused by discrepancies in Bracknell Forest Council’s recent tax changes, where the cost increases don’t match the percentage change outlined by the council.
Bracknell Forest resident, John Shute, said: “Several of my neighbours are concerned that our 2022/23 council tax documents show confusing or misleading charges.
“We wonder if this is a deliberate ruse of the council or incompetence.”
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The most notable example relates to an increase in Adult Social Care tax, where the cost has risen from £199.71 per year in the 2021/22 bill to £250.38 per year in the 2022/23 bill – an increase of 25 per cent.
However, residents have complained that the council appears to show this as a 2.5 per cent increase in the statement.
Other areas of confusion highlighted include the blank percentage for the Town Council tax, despite an increase of 3.4 per cent outlined in the breakdown above and a Bracknell Forest Borough Council tax increase of 2.2 percent where it's stated as a 1.99 per cent rise.
“I am not disputing what I pay, just the council's explanation or rather the lack of it,” said Shute.
The executive director of resources, Stuart McKellar, said:“The adult social care [ASC] precept increase of 2.5 per cent, refers to its percentage of the entire council tax bill. It is not reflective of the percentage of the ASC precept increase in isolation compared to last year. However, the council is required by law to show this on the bill separately, in this way.
“We acknowledge that some aspects of the council tax bill may be difficult to understand. However, the increases are correct as shown.”
In response to McKellar's statement Shute said: "It still has random percentage of figures placed in a column with no header so it has no meaning. Bracknell Town Council tax has no percentage next to it. It needs some clarification.
"The way the information is presented does mislead you into thinking these are the percentage increase on last years figures."
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The council no longer sends explanatory leaflets to help residents understand the tax breakdown, instead residents are referred to a web page printed on both sides of the bill.
But residents have complained that when the link is followed, it goes to a dead council page containing no information.
“We apologise for the broken web link and would like to thank the resident for bringing this to our attention. This has now been resolved and the information is available to view," said McKellar.
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