Andrew Turner has reacted angrily to the news that many of the services carried out by the tax office at Apex House at St Cross Business are to be withdrawn, with the loss of 29 out of 37 jobs. The announcement was made today as part of a closure programme of 130 offices around the country. The face-to-face advice service is to stay on the Island, but may be moved to a more central location. As part of the campaign to keep the office open the Island’s MP attended a meeting in November between local tax-office staff and Dave Hartnett, the Permanent Secretary for Tax to discuss the future of the office on the Island.
Mr Turner said :
“The meeting in November seemed to be positive and constructive and although Mr Hartnett did not hold out any false hope, he did say that he would consider carefully any proposals put forward. I have seen the submission that was subsequently sent to him from the staff on the Island which suggested a number of stand-alone and discrete projects that they could undertake. It was eminently sensible and well-reasoned.
“Staff are highly skilled on the Island and because of the low staff turnover, (over 80% of local staff have more 20 years service) the teams have developed innovative ways of working well together that have gained plaudits from across the country. However, it appears that good arguments and common sense have been sacrificed to the Government’s agenda to centralise services and relocate jobs away from the South East.
“This is a stupid and short-sighted decision, which I believe will lead to lower tax collection – a particular worry in the current economic climate. Mr Hartnett accepted that due to the long-service of Island staff it would be a particularly expensive office to close – and of course enforcement on the Island will in future incur higher costs as mainland based staff will have to bear time and the cost of crossing the Solent. I am therefore very disappointed that none of the arguments that have been put forward in favour of keeping the office were taken up.”
END Contact : Andrew Turner’s office 01983 530808
