I've always taught my staff to challenge the status quo, to question why and to look to improve. So here I am, in the final quarter of my SCT presidency year, and on the basis of my teachings, feel compelled to talk about council tax and more importantly, its reform.

As a method of local taxation, a system based in part on property and in part on individuals, seems reasonable. However, a tax based on the valuation of properties 30 years ago is not right.