Average council tax rises have come in at 4.2%, according to the Department of Communities and Local Government.The average Band D tax for 2007-08 is now £1,321, up from £1,268 in 2006-07. But as The MJ went to press, the secretary of state had yet to announce if the Government would use its power to cap rises. Figures released by the DCLG confirm councils have come in under the inflationary rate of the retail price index – currently at 4.6%. Local Government Association vice chairman, Sir Jeremy Beecham, said: ‘Councils have pulled out all the stops on the annual struggle to keep bills down.' But he criticised the Government for failing to keep up with ‘the massive demands being placed on councils'. No council has gone over the 5% limit set for capping but several have had their rate pushed up by precepts, including a 5.3% precept from the Greater London Authority and some police authorities. Durham Police authority has raised its precept by 34.6%, and Lancashire by 11.4% .
