Council Tax
Waiting for Godot and the Social Care Green Paper
Public finances are outperforming expectations, but the post-spring statement briefing from the Institute for Fiscal Studies highlighted the need to sort out taxation and those other topics that did not get into the speech. Heather Jameson reports.
Steepest council tax rise in 15 years
The steepest climb in council tax in 15 years in Wales will take place in 2019/20, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has found.
Council tax rises will not fix ‘chronically underfunded’ care system
Increases in council tax will fail to fix the ‘chronically underfunded’ social care system, local authority leaders have warned.
Council tax bills to increase by an average of 4.5%
Council tax bills are to rise by an average of 4.5% in England from April, according to the latest figures.
County treasurers urge London councils to hike council tax
Inner London councils should increase their band D council tax ‘closer to the national average’ to raise hundreds of millions of pounds, the Society of County Treasurers (SCT) has told ministers.
Council's projected overspend more than doubles
Highland Council has warned of a £5.5m overspend this year, more than double the amount previously predicted.
Dorset to harmonise council tax
The new unitary Dorset Council has announced details of its harmonised council tax scheme.
Haringey officers in reserves warning
Officers in Haringey LBC have warned that the Labour administration’s use of £5.5m of reserves to increase funding for children’s and adults social care is unsustainable.
EXCLUSIVE: Down to the core
Six out of 10 senior council figures admit their authority is now only delivering a basic core offer of service, The MJ and LGiU think-tank’s annual local government finance survey has revealed.
Think-tanks float extra council tax flexibility
Local government faces another period of tough budget settlements but could be granted more freedom to raise local revenues, according to a report on options for this year’s Spending Review by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) and the Institute for Government.
Northamptonshire given permission for extra council tax increase
Northamptonshire CC has been given the freedom to increase council tax by 2% more than other local authorities without holding a referendum, it was announced today.
Cuts to council tax support have created ‘sizeable’ increase in arrears
Cuts to council tax support (CTS) have led to a surge in unpaid bills, new research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies has revealed.
Lords warn services face ‘evisceration’ without radical change
Lords have warned ministers of the ‘evisceration’ of local government unless funding is overhauled.
Surrey CC plans full 2.99% council tax hike
Financially troubled Surrey CC has outlined plans to raise council tax by the maximum 2.99%.
Merseyside combined authority announces first precept
The Liverpool city region combined authority is to levy a council tax precept for the first time.
Councils need to take a considered approach towards the vulnerable
Matthew Drage of Huntswood outlines how local authorities can ensure they are treating the most vulnerable in society fairly when dealing with arrears and collections
Council shuns bitcoin suggestion
Walsall MBC has shunned a suggestion from its local Conservative MP for residents to be allowed to pay their council tax with bitcoin.
Rotherham to raise council tax on empty homes
Rotherham MBC’s cabinet has agreed to changes which mean homes left vacant for more than 10 years will be expected to pay three times the usual bill. Homeowners who leave properties empty for five years would see their council tax bill double.
Finance settlement: Government floats commercialisation crackdown
Whitehall is considering a crackdown on councils that excessively borrow for commercial reasons as it continues to restrict council tax rises.
Councils to take £200m hit under Scottish budget proposals
A row has broken out over local government funding in the Scottish Government’s proposed budget.