COUNCIL TAX

Scrap council tax referendum limits, says DCN

District councils should have the powers to increase council tax referendum limits to at least 10% as a first step to scrapping them altogether, district council chiefs say.

District councils should have the powers to increase council tax referendum limits to at least 10% as a first step to scrapping them altogether, district council chiefs say.

The District Council Network (DCN) has published a new prospectus setting out how a partnership between the new Government and district councils can help transform local places.

One of its main asks is that councils be given greater freedoms and flexibilities to raise income and support themselves.

The prospectus urges the next government to empower councils to increase fees to recover the full cost of planning and licensing services.

It also calls for local housing authorities to be allowed to retain all the extra income from the council tax supplement on second homes.

The network is also asking the next government to give councils more local control of business taxes and increase business rates retention to 75% of receipts.

COUNCIL TAX

Fair funding finally within sight

By Sir Stephen Houghton | 11 July 2025

Full council tax equalisation will have a huge impact for the most deprived areas, but for the sector to be able to work with Government as a partner an incr...

COUNCIL TAX

ADCS Conference: £53m for new DoL placements

By Ann McGauran | 10 July 2025

The Government has allocated £53m to create 200 new council-run placements for children deprived of their liberty, a minister announced today.

COUNCIL TAX

Devo Bill to reintroduce supplementary vote in blow to Reform

By Dan Peters | 10 July 2025

The supplementary vote system will be reintroduced to elect mayors in a move that is expected to reduce the chances of success for Reform UK.

COUNCIL TAX

Council pressures have 'increased significantly', says OBR

By Dan Peters | 09 July 2025

Councils face ‘growing risks to their financial sustainability’, the UK’s official forecaster has warned.

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