Let us spread bills over 12 months

Our Council Tax bill has risen by five per cent for the forthcoming year and, like many, I choose to pay by ten monthly instalments, leaving two ‘free’ months.

There is an option to pay in 12 monthly instalments – by arrangement. Ten payments give a figure, in our case, of approximately £187 per month which is just affordable.

I believe, however, that the

Government should legislate that Council Tax can only be paid over 12 months instead of ten.

This would bring the burden down to approximately £156 per month, a saving to the average Band C home of £31 outlay while the council would still receive the same amount but over a longer period.

Similarly, a ruling for water rates and energy charges would ease the pressure on hardpressed families at this difficult time. I believe that the marginal cost to the councils and utilities would be partly offset by a reduction in defaults.

If our out-of-touch MPs cannot grasp the concept, perhaps they could ask Martin Lewis to explain.

David Taylor, Stourport-on-Severn