Lowest ever rise in council tax announced

A below inflation rise of 1.8 per cent will make this year’s council tax change the lowest ever, Communities and Local Government Secretary John Denham announced today.

Official statistics published today on council tax levels show the average Band D council tax set by local authorities in England will be £1,439 for 2010/11 - the lowest increase ever since the introduction of council tax in 1993/94.

This year councils will get an average four per cent grant increase taking funding levels to £76.2bn in 2010-11, helping to protect and improve front line services.

John Denham said:
"The lowest ever increase has been made possible by a 45% real increase in government funding for local services since 1997.

"Our continued commitment will see councils receive an average 4 per cent funding increase in April – helping to protect and improve front line services.

"Councils will have some tough choices ahead as things become tighter, but that is no reason to lower their sights on delivering service quality people rightly value.

"Local people will rightly be intolerant of any council if they are told that care, libraries or youth services will be cut because they have not followed our radical reforms to protect the frontline services which matter most to people."