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

The secret ingredient is community crowdfunding

By Frank Kibble | 27 June 2025

In London Climate Action Week, Frank Kibble explains how everyday climate activism is being being funded by communities - with support from their council.

COUNCIL TAX

Government 'localising blame'

By Martin Ford | 26 June 2025

The Government has been accused of ‘localising blame’ by relying on council tax hikes to prop up local authorities’ finances.

COUNCIL TAX

Reorganisation 'damage will take years to repair'

By Martin Ford | 25 June 2025

Concerns have been voiced over the role of proposed neighbourhood area committees in newly reorganised unitary councils.

COUNCIL TAX

'Maxing out' council tax will be challenging, says Mapley

By Heather Jameson | 25 June 2025

It will be ‘challenging’ for communities to see council tax ‘maxing out’ as the Government pledges to keep income tax low, finance expert Owen Mapley has said.

Popular articles by William Eichler