Legal News
Councils Encouraged To Sign Up To Council Tax Freeze (25 January 2012)
Date: 25/01/2012
Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, has encouraged councils to agree to the council tax freeze, claiming that they have a “moral duty” to do so. Some of England’s local authorities have claimed that they wish to reject funds from central Government and increase council tax rates. Mr. Pickles has told of how council tax rises would hit hard-working taxpayers hard.
Many of England’s councils are of the belief that they will only be able to protect services if they increase council tax rates. Government figures for England have indicated that a total of 142 councils support a freeze in council tax bills this year. Over the past three years, financial incentives have been offered to local authorities who support a freeze council tax. However, the Government is unable to force councils to agree to a freeze.
A freeze in council tax was observed across all councils in 2011. However, a small but significant number of councils have launched a rebellion against council tax freezes. Several Labour-controlled local authorities, including Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, Leicester and Darlington, are planning to raise council tax rates from April of this year. Conservative-led Peterborough, Surrey and Chelmsford have also voiced plans for an increase in recent weeks. Mr. Pickles announced last month that any local authority wishing to increase council tax by in excess of 3.5 per cent this year must ask the public to vote on the changes.
The housing law solicitors at Duncan Lewis’ possess substantial experience in acting for clients in a range of housing law proceedings.