[cathidaw]

Some years ago when we paid rates instead of poll or council tax ,we had an ancient single garage taken down and had a double one in it's place.
Of course we were rated on the larger one as 'double garage' and also the single one.
I argued with the council that as we were already paying for one single garage the cost should only be for one other single as the old one had gone.
They said I was illogical. They could'nt puzzle out what I was on about---it probably wasn't in their handbook. After many weeks of wrangling-they were getting sick of me and were cautious when answering the phone to me saying they were out -of the office-in a meeting -etc. I decided upon another tack and wrote to them to say that we had demolished a single garage so would they please take it off the rates .
It worked and by the next week it was done.
Definitely a case of one hand not knowing-- etc. and not thinking for themselves.
Having said all this I have found the NBBC very different these last few years
and approachable