I have never had to pay council tax, and recently had to investigate it for some friends. I don’t think the way that the amount to pay is decided is fair, and I’ve read tons of letters to papers and tabloid front pages moaning about how it was going up and up. So I figured out how much a couple living in an mid rate Birmingham house would pay, expecting it to be shocked and appauled…

It came to about £10 a week each.

Ten quid? For police, fire service, street lighting, rubbish collection, roads, pest control, schools, parks, libraries, sports centers… two hours of minimum wage?

I realise that figure is subsidised etc etc, but that sounds like a bargain to me.