Councillors set to consider call to join tax dodge campaign
COUNCILLORS will consider a call to join a national campaign against tax dodging at the next meeting of West Dorset District Council.
Beaminster councillor Caroline Payne has submitted a notice of motion, which will be considered by members at the meeting on Thursday, January 8. The motion reads: “Please could our council join the call to end tax dodging by passing a motion in support of Action Aid’s Towns Against Tax Dodging campaign.
“Nationally, nearly half of local authority funding comes from central government – financed from general taxation including corporation tax.
“This makes corporate tax avoidance an issue directly relevant to the provision of local government services.
“While many ordinary people face falling household income and rising costs of living, some multinational comp- anies are avoiding billions of pounds of tax from a tax system that fails to make them pay their fair share.
“Local governments in developing countries and the UK alike would benefit from a fairer tax system where multinational companies pay their fair share, enabling authorities around the world to provide quality public services.”
Action Aid claims developing countries lose three time more to tax havens than they receive in aid every year, while in the UK it is estimated the Treasury loses £12bn to tax dodging a year.
