Pickles welcomes 219 councils freezing council tax

Latest figures show that 219 councils are freezing council tax for 2013/14, a move welcomed by communities secretary, Eric Pickles.

The 219 councils have decided to accept the Government’s grant offer to freeze council tax for a third consecutive year.

Pickles said: ‘I’m pleased that an increasing number of councils are taking up the Government’s deal to freeze their residents’ council tax. I encourage all authorities still to decide to follow their example.

‘Those that freeze bills are making a real difference to families and those on fixed incomes, such as pensioners, with their cost of living.’

Last year, the Government introduced a new referendum trigger if councils chose to raise council tax above 2%.