Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham (left) with Cllr Rowan Ree, Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform (right)
H&F is one of nearly 50 UK Fair Tax Councils and proud to be part of Fair Tax Week 2023, which runs 8-18 June.
We are part of a growing movement of cities, towns and districts standing up for responsible tax conduct including Westminster, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Newcastle.
Since H&F signed up to the Fair Tax Declaration last year, the council has written to over 100 suppliers whose contracts are worth over £100m to ask them to meet their tax obligations transparently.
It also invited them to become accredited with the Fair Tax Mark – the gold standard of responsible tax conduct and a mark of pride for businesses and employees.
Councillor Rowan Ree, H&F Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, said: “When millionaires and multinationals use loopholes in the tax system to avoid paying what they owe it is the rest of us who suffer. Either through reduced funding for schools, hospitals and policing, or through paying more to fill the gaps.
“So I am proud to be backing Fair Tax Week to highlight the need for honesty and transparency when it comes to tax so we can all benefit.”
Mary Patel, Networks Manager, Fair Tax Foundation, added: “Tax is so important when considered against the huge array of public services it helps support. Fair Tax Week is the perfect opportunity to celebrate councils like H&F who are proud to stand up for responsible tax conduct.
“Recent research has found that the UK loses an estimated £17bn in corporation tax revenues as a result of profit shifting alone. Backing fair tax and transparent financial reporting should be clear common ground for all parties as we seek to rebuild, level up and drive out dirty money.”
Recent polling has found that nearly two thirds of people believe the Government and local councils should consider a company’s ethics and how they pay their tax, as well as value for money and quality of service provided, when awarding contracts to companies.
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