Title

FINANCE

Council tax to rise by 3.7% on average

The average council tax bill is expected to increase by 3.7% in 2020/21, new analysis has revealed.

The average council tax bill is expected to increase by 3.7% in 2020/21, new analysis has revealed.

CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) said council tax bills have risen consistently every year since 2012, with households facing an average increase of £64.65.

Chief executive officer of CIPFA, Rob Whiteman, said: ‘Today's findings illustrate that local authorities across the country are putting up their council tax to fight the ongoing legacy of austerity.

'The simple fact is that council tax, along with business rates and central government grant, is no longer enough to fund increased demand on vital public services, including social care.

'These funding mechanisms remain in an unsustainable position for the long term.'

The Local Government Association (LGA) said a third of extra council tax income for adult social care services will be spent covering the cost of the 'unforeseen' increase to the National Living Wage.

Chair of the LGA's resources board, Cllr Richard Watts, said: 'Faced with ongoing funding pressures such as homelessness and looking after vulnerable children, councils continue to be left with little choice but to ask residents to pay more to help them try to protect their local services.'

FINANCE

Ofsted set to punish councils for unregistered children's homes

By Joe Lepper | 03 July 2026

Ofsted is looking to use future inspections to penalise councils that use illegal unregistered children’s care homes.

FINANCE

LGA warns of £7bn funding black hole for sector

By Paul Marinko | 03 July 2026

The Local Government Association (LGA) has thrown down the gauntlet to a likely Burnham-led government with warnings the sector faces a £7bn funding black hole.

FINANCE

Should health, care and local government departments merge?

By Christopher Exeter | 03 July 2026

With Andy Burnham poised to become Prime Minister and launch what could be a radical restructure of public services, Christopher Exeter looks back a hundred ...

FINANCE

Preparing for the next food fight

By Vic Harper | 02 July 2026

Council leaders should use the Crisis and Resilience Fund to lock in prevention before the next food crisis arrives, writes Vic Harper.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman