Council Tax
Scottish councils’ debt is one-and-a-half times funding
The debt of councils in Scotland is more than one-and-a-half times the latest local government funding settlement, the Scottish Conservatives have found.
Let’s restart the housing debate
Key Cities’ manifesto details nine policy recommendations to help councils address the housing shortage – and the next Government must begin introducing targets on day one, says Lorna Fielker.
Local government: One sector ready for the challenge
While there’s still so much uncertainty around local government, it is positive to be thinking ahead to meaningful and lasting change, says Tracy Bingham.
Ministers stand firm on tax bands
Ministers have reiterated to MPs there are ‘no plans’ to revalue council tax bands due to the cost and disproportionate impact on lower-income households and pensioners.
Scottish councils in tax U-turn
Argyll and Bute and Inverclyde councils had both voted to raise tax in defiance of the Scottish Government's efforts to secure a nationwide freeze.
Future Forum: ‘Hope’ for council tax overhaul
Labour could be presented with an opportunity to reform council tax if election polls are borne out, The MJ’s Future Forum has heard.
Welsh council tax rises finalised
The average council tax rise for Welsh local authorities will be just over 8% next year.
Who can solve the council tax conundrum?
In the latest of The MJ’s series outlining a new vision for local government, drawing from the Lyons review, Jon Rowney considers the options for council tax reform.
Limited exemptions for empty homes powers
Councils will face only a limited number of exemptions from new powers allowing them to levy higher taxes on empty homes, ministers have confirmed.
Daring to be bold
The MJ’s series on building a new vision for local government, drawing from the 2007 Lyons Review, continues as Piali Das Gupta looks at how councils can do hard things successfully. 'We should have every confidence in the strength of our offer.'
Council funding crisis ‘existential’
Local government’s funding crisis threatens to derail ambitions to level up the north of England, it has been claimed.
Scottish Budget 'not good' for communities
Next year’s Scottish Budget is ‘not good’ for communities, council leaders have said.
Cuts put hard squeeze on most deprived councils
New analysis reveals upper tier local authorities in the most deprived decile have seen a real-terms cut in their core spending power of more than a quarter since 2010-11, says Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton.
What the Budget will mean for councils
David Phillips says a focus on tax cuts in the upcoming Budget does not mean councils will go completely unmentioned – but what happens in the next Spending Review will be more important.
14 years on: The ‘winners’ and ‘losers’
New data shows how £13.9bn of cumulative cuts in local authority funding in the 14 years since 2010-11 have hit the sector. Ann McGauran and Maks Wieczorski report.
Fresh wave of devolution could reduce regional inequalities, says report
An overhaul of the local government system and a fresh wave of devolution have been put forward as solutions to regional inequalities in a report.
Budget: Expect plenty of smoke and mirrors politics
The sector should expect more tax cutting smoke and mirror solutions at this year’s Budget, says Zoë Billingham. She warns: ‘There’ll be no hiding from the fact that taxes will be rising very clearly locally.’
Council rejects tax freeze offer
Argyll and Bute Council has become the first to reject the Scottish Government’s council tax freeze.
Brum proposes £300m cuts
Cash-strapped Birmingham City Council will cut spending on services by £300m to balance its books.
Sunak doesn't accept the council tax system is broken
Without the additional £17m a year Somerset Council could have generated through council tax the future looks very bleak indeed, says leader Bill Revans.