Horses saddled with council tax

A WOMAN has been saddled with a council tax bill of £700 for her horse.

Sharon Monks and two friends received the demand from Lancaster City Council for non-domestic rates for their small stables at Overton, near Morecambe, Lancs where they keep three horses, Denver, Cooper and Gucci.

But Sharon and her fellow horse-lovers, Jason Lee and Sandra Parker were left bewildered by the bill because they don’t run the stables as a business.

“We are three friends, we have one horse each and we keep them at a stables, “ said Sharon, who runs two laundry businesses in Morecambe.

“I can’t believe it, my horse is a council tax -payer. What service does the council provide for my horse?

“I rang the council to query the bill and told them I don’t run a business from the stables. I was told, ’Well, you might run a business there in the future.’ I think it’s a fiddle.”

But the council maintains that the demand is correct.

A spokesman said: “Livery stables are liable for a non-domestic rate charge if they are not within the curtilage of your home.

“A bill was issued in the name of Jason Lee, who completed an occupier’s form on November 29, 2007, stating he was the tenant of Trailhome Farm Stables.

“On January 4, Sharon Monks rang to say that she and Sandra Parker also kept horses in the stables along with Mr Lee and as a result the Valuation Office were to visit with a view to splitting the assessment accordingly.

“We are awaiting a descion by the Valuation Office which is part of the Inland Revenue.”