Dr. Miche?l Collins:

I have monitored that over time and observed it in various ways. It has been very interesting to see that the initial knee-jerk reaction of local authorities has been to cut the rate. The opportunity to reduce or increase the rate by 15% almost always resulted in a reduction by 15% but local governments and councillors then realised they would not have many resources with which to do something useful in their areas. This realisation brought rates back up towards the baseline, and in many places 15% was added to that.