Felicity Mendelson

[Felicity Mendelson @flissmen]

@tom_watson Very disappointed - but pretty symbolic of what seems to have gone wrong in our society as manifest in many of our “ leaders” especially amongst seeming / erstwhile socialist colleagues . What happened to values ? Is it each to his own ?

[Martin Lewis @MartinSLewis]

Many parts of the council tax system are broken - finally a chance to improve them! Including the hideous council tax debt collection methods, the difficulty of challenging your band and of claiming the Severe Mental Impairment discount. At 9:30am govt will launch a consultation on 'Council Tax Administration (Eng)' (ie how its operated, not its existence)

Here's my official quote on it on behalf of @mmhpi and @moneysavinexp who I've campaigned with on different parts of it.

“Many parts of the Council Tax system are broken, and having called for some of these fixes for nearly 20 years, I’m delighted the government has listened and rapidly launched this long-due consultation, including many of the administration areas I hear the most complaints on."

“Council Tax rapid and aggressive debt collection methods currently hurt millions and disproportionately affect those with mental health problems. Within three weeks of missing a monthly payment many councils say you must pay for the whole year… ridiculous, how can people who can’t afford to pay for a month, suddenly pay for a year?"

"After a further three weeks councils can call bailiffs in and rack up charges on charges. No commercial lender is allowed to behave like this, meaning constituents are treated worse than consumers. Worse, it’s counter-productive, can add to council’s costs and still doesn’t mean people can pay it back. The government has listened to our evidence, and this consultation thankfully looks at slowing it down, adding-in consideration, capping added costs, and pointing people towards help to pay."

“Plus, as council tax bands haven’t been revalued since the stop-gap drive-by valuations first done back in 1991, while looking at that isn’t in the scope of this consultation, it’s only right that if people think they’re wrongly in too high a band, as 100,000s likely are, the government is consulting on making it easier to challenge, so people can pay the right price."

"The consultation is also proposing help for some of the most vulnerable – we’ve long campaigned on the horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount, which is underclaimed, overcomplex and underpublicised, and this gives an opportunity to move towards a simpler, more universal, less off-putting application process.”

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Other things in the consultation (which it wants you to feed on, I'll put a link out when it is live - the more people who have their say the better) include

- Shifting the default payment to 12 not 10monthly (you'll still be able to opt for 10mths if you want though)
- Uplifting the min earnings amount for carers & apprenticeship discounts

[Felicity Mendelson @flissmen]

https://t.co/OhzlDupyGX

[Felicity Mendelson @flissmen]

@JaneLabour @NewcastleCC I’m not a traffic engineer or planner - but I think there are enough people like me who can articulate our priorities - not car dominated but recognising that some people rely on cars to get about . Some may think this decision means cars rule - must nip that in the bud asap ! .

[Felicity Mendelson @flissmen]

Great idea @NewcastleCC. SUVs cause more pollution and clog up local parking spaces - good example is Acorn Road shopping area https://t.co/AWvMP0t7J7

[Felicity Mendelson @flissmen]

@JaneLabour @NewcastleCC I don’t think the bollards were the solution but the problem remains .Rabid car users could think this condones cars as no 1 means of transport for all journeys . We need to put pedestrians,local businesses and a greener sustainable community at the heart of what we do.

[Felicity Mendelson @flissmen]

Great to meet with @MayorJD at @JesmondLibrary with some useful information on funding opportunities .

[Jamie Driscoll @JamieDriscollNE]

773 public #libraries closed between 2010 and 2019. It’s prevented thousands of children from experiencing the joy of reading and learning. Where would Matilda have been without her local #library! But community volunteers are fighting back and making sure they stay open 👇

[Felicity Mendelson @flissmen]

@CoarseDurham @DurhamDistilUK It certainly is!

[Felicity Mendelson @flissmen]

Make dental treatment free in the UK - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/ETvHyYpp62 via @UKChange

[Felicity Mendelson @flissmen]

This is so crucial -- please sign: #Fossil Free https://t.co/EPicmXlqju via @gofossilfree

[Simon Kuper @KuperSimon]

Getting rid of huge cars is just about the easiest thing we can do for the climate - and given the sevenfold increase in SUVs since 2010, pretty important. It's much easier than banning planes or cows. Me @FT https://t.co/JfH7WxKZWA

[Felicity Mendelson @flissmen]

@NeilMurphy1978 @Jesmonder @salawatson @SPACEforJesmond If you shut all the roads which is the ideal solution - but is not possible anyway because of access for emergency vehicles as I understand it - how do all the residents and taxis and delivery vans get about .- do much traffic is actually generated this way

[Felicity Mendelson @flissmen]

@SocialistNHS Yes

[Felicity Mendelson @flissmen]

@CoarseDurham And the mini grater is the gift that keeps on giving - makes an excellent Christmas tree decoration !

[Felicity Mendelson @flissmen]

The British public deserve better, we demand a general election now. #GeneralElection2022

https://t.co/w4ainEpSV6

[Action Foundation🧡 @actionFdn]

Friends’ Fridays at @JesmondLibrary offers refugees & asylum seekers the chance to improve their English through classes & conversation between 9.30am and 12.30pm. More info here: https://t.co/xC4UXcwklp

[Felicity Mendelson @flissmen]

@SpaceysMum @LonsdaleJesmond Maybe we should all meet up and see how we get on !

[Felicity Mendelson @flissmen]

Seen at recently refurbished local pub ⁦@LonsdaleJesmond⁩ .Can anyone tell me what Competitive Socialising is? Or maybe I’ve been doing it all my life without realising !

[Felicity Mendelson @flissmen]

Magical Town Moor Hoppings. So good to see it back. ⁦@TheHoppings_⁩

[Felicity Mendelson @flissmen]

Keeping it Local! – Jesmond Library https://t.co/14so7NrLR1