Over a third of councils are likely to accept the government’s grant to freeze council tax, according to new figures.
The figures, which show 137 local authorities are planning to accept the funding, are published as the referendum for raising council tax is set at 2% or above.
Communities secretary, Eric Pickles, said: ‘Council tax bills more than doubled, pushing the typical bill to a £120 a month from hard-working people and pensioners. Council tax became a big worry for those trying to balance family budgets. This government has been working to give families greater financial security, taking action to keep council tax down.
‘We have given extra funding to town halls to help freeze council tax and handed local residents new rights to veto big local tax hikes, so local people have the final say on the amount they pay.’
However, council leaders said that because this announcement comes after councils have finalised their budgets, it adds further 'uncertainty’ to the future of services.
Cllr Sharon Taylor, chair of the Local Government Association's Finance Panel, said: ‘It should be for councils and their residents to decide how local services are paid for, not Whitehall. The ballot box on local election day allows for people to pass judgement on their councils.
‘No other tax increase is subject to the extra cost of a referendum, as all other taxes are rightly seen to be within the mandate of the elected government. The same should apply for council tax.’
