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Government rules out English council tax revaluation Government rules out English council tax revaluation
(about 2 hours later)
There will be no revaluation of council tax bands in England during this Parliament, the government has pledged.There will be no revaluation of council tax bands in England during this Parliament, the government has pledged.
It means there will be no rise in local taxes for householders based solely on the increased value of their homes.It means there will be no rise in local taxes for householders based solely on the increased value of their homes.
Every property in England is in one of eight council tax bands, depending on value, and these were last set in 1993.Every property in England is in one of eight council tax bands, depending on value, and these were last set in 1993.
The government said Labour had been "actively planning" to carry out a revaluation but Labour said its election manifesto had promised not to.The government said Labour had been "actively planning" to carry out a revaluation but Labour said its election manifesto had promised not to.
'Financial worries''Financial worries'
A revaluation is long overdue, but would prove highly unpopular with householders who find themselves in a higher band and therefore paying more in council tax, said the BBC's Greg Wood.A revaluation is long overdue, but would prove highly unpopular with householders who find themselves in a higher band and therefore paying more in council tax, said the BBC's Greg Wood.
A revaluation in Wales in 2005 placed about a third of all homes there in a higher band.A revaluation in Wales in 2005 placed about a third of all homes there in a higher band.
The government says that a rise from Band D - the bench mark for council tax - to Band E would cost an extra £320-a-year.The government says that a rise from Band D - the bench mark for council tax - to Band E would cost an extra £320-a-year.
The former Labour government had planned to revalue council tax bands in England in 2007, but announced in 2005 that it would postpone the decision until after the next general election.
It said the delay was to allow the issue to be considered as part of a wider inquiry into local authority funding, but some commentators said at the time that the decision was also a reaction to the anger sparked by the Welsh revaluation.
Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said: "We have cancelled Labour's plans for a council tax revaluation which would have hiked up taxes on people's homes.Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said: "We have cancelled Labour's plans for a council tax revaluation which would have hiked up taxes on people's homes.
"Hefty council tax bills are a constant financial worry for many people. Today we are setting their minds at ease, and protecting the interests of the less well-off in particular who were the hardest-hit from Labour's council tax revaluation in Wales.""Hefty council tax bills are a constant financial worry for many people. Today we are setting their minds at ease, and protecting the interests of the less well-off in particular who were the hardest-hit from Labour's council tax revaluation in Wales."
But a Labour spokesman said: "The Labour Party made an unequivocal commitment that there would be no council tax revaluation in this parliament.But a Labour spokesman said: "The Labour Party made an unequivocal commitment that there would be no council tax revaluation in this parliament.
"This is a cynical and misleading manipulation of facts based on what was ultimately a routine updating of the Valuation Office Agency's records.""This is a cynical and misleading manipulation of facts based on what was ultimately a routine updating of the Valuation Office Agency's records."
The Taxpayers' Alliance, which campaigns for lower taxes, said families would be relieved there was to be no revaluation.The Taxpayers' Alliance, which campaigns for lower taxes, said families would be relieved there was to be no revaluation.
"Council tax has doubled in the last 10 years whilst many services have been scaled back, executive pay has spiralled out of control and charges have increased; it's time council tax was cut," spokesman Emma Boon said."Council tax has doubled in the last 10 years whilst many services have been scaled back, executive pay has spiralled out of control and charges have increased; it's time council tax was cut," spokesman Emma Boon said.
What band a house falls into is determined by inspectors from the government's Valuation Office Agency (VOA).What band a house falls into is determined by inspectors from the government's Valuation Office Agency (VOA).
There has been criticism in the past from some quarters over what data about people's homes is collected and kept by the VOA.There has been criticism in the past from some quarters over what data about people's homes is collected and kept by the VOA.
Mr Pickles said the government was moving to address this issue, and that an independent data audit of the VOA would protect privacy and civil liberties as part of dismantling the "database state".Mr Pickles said the government was moving to address this issue, and that an independent data audit of the VOA would protect privacy and civil liberties as part of dismantling the "database state".
The Scottish Parliament has no plans to revalue homes in the foreseeable future.The Scottish Parliament has no plans to revalue homes in the foreseeable future.
In Northern Ireland, which has a different system of local taxes, property values were re-assessed in 2005.In Northern Ireland, which has a different system of local taxes, property values were re-assessed in 2005.