Four million people face huge council tax rises
More than four million people face huge council tax rises after eight bankrupt town halls asked for permission to raise bills by a larger amount than is normally allowed by law.
In one district, household bills will increase by 25 per cent—the largest increase in England for two decades.
Another seven councils have proposed huge rises of between 10 and 15 per cent from April.
Under normal rules, local authorities can raise council tax by up to five per cent unless taxpayers approve a larger increase in a referendum.
Struggling councils who are at risk of effective bankruptcy can apply for higher rises, which would be signed off by Angela Rayner in her role as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Some 4.4 million residents in eight local authorities are set to suffer this fate, according to an audit by the Daily Mail.
Benjamin Elks, from the TaxPayers' Alliance campaign group, told the newspaper: 'Local taxpayers are fed up with having to pick up the tab for reckless councils.
'As hard-working households across the country tighten their belts, local authorities are refusing to rein in their out-of-control spending, squandering cash on pointless pet projects.
'It's high time town halls focused on delivering core services efficiently, not asking local residents to keep funding their dangerous addiction to spending.'
The 154,000 residents of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, are facing the largest council tax rise in the country - five times the usual maximum, adding £451 to the average cost.
The Liberal Democrat-run local authority is looking to force through a 25 per cent increase, which would be the largest for two decades in England if ultimately approved by ministers.
Birmingham is considering raising council tax by 10 per cent for a second consecutive year.
If the rise goes ahead then Band D Council Tax payers in England's second city will see their bills rise by a combined £400 over two years.
Labour-run Bradford council, which was bailed out by the government to the tune of £220 million last year and is currently the UK City of Culture, has also asked to increase the levy by up to 15 per cent from April for its 560,000 residents, putting around £170 on the average bill.
In December, Lib Dem-led North Somerset Council also proposed the same increase, putting it by an average of £256 a year, as well as asking its 215,000 residents if they would donate £1,000 to help fill the authority's multi-million funding gap.
Hampshire County Council has asked ministers for permission to hike council tax by 15 per cent in 2025/26, adding £230 to the bill of a Band D property.
Huge rises are also being planned by the London borough of Newham, the Labour and independent coalition of Cheshire East and Tory-run Slough, which has already hiked by more than 5 per cent for the last two years.
A spokesman for the Local Government Association said: 'Many councils have faced the tough choice about whether to increase bills to bring in desperately needed funding to provide services at a time when they are acutely aware of the significant burden that could place on some households.
'However, while council tax is an important funding stream, the significant financial pressures facing local services cannot be met by council tax income alone. It also raises different amounts in different parts of the country - unrelated to need.
'Councils need a significant change in our funding to stabilise local government finances so we can deliver the services local people want to see.'
A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: 'No decisions have been made on council tax increases and we will only consider agreeing to requests for rises above 5 per cent in exceptional circumstances, in line with the previous government's position.
'Councils are ultimately responsible for setting their own council tax, and we will put taxpayers at the forefront of any decision.'
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