As I understand it, there's no legal obligation on a council to set a yearly rate, only from time to time. Although that doesn't apply authorities. If this option isn't an illegal at least for rating if not precepting authorities- — I would guess it will attract those councils who are uncertain about stepping beyond the boundaries of the law.
Perhaps you'll pull more people in behind you because of that. But what's to stop Thatcher introducing legislation or taking administrative measures to make what you're proposing illegal?
Whilst it isn't illegal not to set a rate, there is a requirement on us to balance vl cas. so, ln la cuneis wno adopt this strategy are stepping outside ine law. Our lawyer's advice is that there are risks to the councils involved in this strategy. But the risk of surcharge and so on is an unchartea area.
Can the government Law? The government can do all sorts of' things. But it is exceptionally difficult, as we have seen, for them to introduce new local government legislation in the House of Commons, or even the other chamber. It would not find it easy to introduce such legislation.
Can you estimate how much support your proposal's going to get?
I think there is a genuine feeling that we have to have a unified approach. are not saying, come what may this option must be adopted by everybody. But we feel that it has an advantage which other tactics that have been proposed don't have.
Whilst what to do at the end of the financial year, councils must begin now to gear the town hail trade unions and other trade unionists, the labour Parties and UK's nd».
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