Council Tax
Voluntary council tax scheme raises £400k
Westminster City Council’s scheme to encourage its wealthiest Band H residents to contribute extra on top of their council tax has raised £400,000 so far, according to figures released today.
Goodwill hunting
A new Localis report suggests ministers should lift the cap for council tax referendums and let local people put their money where their heart is, writes Jonathan Werran.
Cash collection made simple
Councils could bring in vital extra funding if they apply behavioural insights to revenue collection argues Tim Pearse
LGA under pressure on student council tax
Councillors have put Smith Square under pressure to lobby the Government to give local authorities the power to decide whether to charge students council tax, The MJ understands.
Power to Change your view
Some say we grow to become the things we disliked as youngsters.
Rise in children's services spending
The amount expected to be spent on children’s social care in 2018/19 is up 6.8% or £542m compared to the figure in 2017/18 budgets, latest figures have shown.
MPs say levy for over 40s could fund free social care
People aged over 40 should pay a dedicated social care premium to fund free care in the future, MPs have said.
Needs review to decide council tax support
Funding for local council tax support schemes will be considered as part of the review of needs and resources, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has said.
Localis: Council tax restrictions should be eased
Ministers should lift restrictions on council tax increases and let town halls set local taxes for specific services amid snowballing support for some higher contributions, a report has suggested.
Districts resist council tax support pressure
Districts have hit back at Government pressure for them to pass on cash for local council tax support schemes (LCTS).
The Seattle battle is a warning over tax raising
No one ever said tax was popular, but Seattle City Council faced the wrath of big business this week in a bid to raise levies to help fight homelessness – and, unsurprisingly, big business has hit back.
Reorganisation: papering over the cracks?
Christian Wall explains why he believes simply reorganising Northamptonshire CC is seductive and gives the illusion of firm action, but in isolation merely papers over gaping cracks.
Brexit warning for Middlesbrough
Senior Middlesbrough councillors have been warned that the potential economic damage arising from Britain leaving the EU could derail its strategy for regeneration and renewal.
Call for a radical rethink on the generational divide
Radical changes to housing, council and inheritance tax and pensions are needed to end the unfair ‘generational’ divide, according to a major think-tank.
Future Forum: Thomson optimistic about health and care integration
Health and social care integration can be achieved within two years, the managing director of Norfolk CC has told The MJ’s Future Forum.
Future Forum: LGA to push for place-based EU funding replacement
The Local Government Association (LGA) will push for a place-based replacement for EU funding after Brexit, Smith Square’s chief executive has said.
A holistic view of citizen debt is crucial to collection
Many councils are now writing off huge amounts of debt as they lack the resources to follow collection through to payment. Gary Bell believes councils can better collect the large sums of money owed to them.
LGA report suggests lifting of council tax freeze
Broxtowe BC should consider lifting its council tax freeze as it begins to use reserves at a ‘significant rate,’ a Local Government Association desktop review of the authority’s financial position has suggested.
White Van Man on ... council tax
My local council hasn’t put up its council tax in years. Don’t ask me what it’s done with all these expensive old people. Must all be in beds in sheds.
Parish pressure over council tax support
Billing authorities are facing increased Government pressure to hand parish councils cash to fund local council tax support schemes.