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Families face biggest council-tax increase in eight years | Families face biggest council-tax increase in eight years |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Families face their biggest council-tax increases for eight years with the average bill set to jump by nearly £50 in England and Wales, news figures reveal. | Families face their biggest council-tax increases for eight years with the average bill set to jump by nearly £50 in England and Wales, news figures reveal. |
Following a change in the rules by Chancellor George Osborne, authorities will be able to raise council-tax charges by up to 3.99 per cent in 2016-17 without having to call a local referendum. | Following a change in the rules by Chancellor George Osborne, authorities will be able to raise council-tax charges by up to 3.99 per cent in 2016-17 without having to call a local referendum. |
Dozens are preparing to put bills up by the maximum amount, with many more planning rises a fraction under. Council tax is set to go up by average of 3.6 per cent in England outside London, taking the annual bill for a band D property to £1,574, a rise of £54. The rise for the country including the capital will be 3.1 per cent, or £46 a year. In Wales the average increase is also set to be 3.6 per cent. | Dozens are preparing to put bills up by the maximum amount, with many more planning rises a fraction under. Council tax is set to go up by average of 3.6 per cent in England outside London, taking the annual bill for a band D property to £1,574, a rise of £54. The rise for the country including the capital will be 3.1 per cent, or £46 a year. In Wales the average increase is also set to be 3.6 per cent. |
The planned rises, which follow a six-year squeeze on council finances, contrast with the inflation rate, which is barely above zero. | The planned rises, which follow a six-year squeeze on council finances, contrast with the inflation rate, which is barely above zero. |
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, which calculated the figures, said the rises would be the highest since 2008-09. | The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, which calculated the figures, said the rises would be the highest since 2008-09. |
Communities Secretary Greg Clark said: “Our historic four-year funding deal for councils both gives them certainty to plan ahead, and meets the clear request to prioritise care for our elderly population with a £3.5bn social care funding package. | |
“It means councils have the freedom to set a social care precept as part of local bills, with excessive council tax increases still subject to local referendum to protect council taxpayers. | |
“Even with these changes council tax will still be lower in real terms in 2019-20 than in 2009-10 – and this year’s increase will still be lower than the average 6.2 per cent annual increase between 1997 and 2010.” |
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