Council tax

• Local elections 2018: Decision time on local services

  What issues will the main political parties be focusing on in the upcoming local elections? Mark Whitehead investigates.

  

• Parish and town councils welcome ‘fair funding’ letter

  The Government has written to billing authorities urging then to reconsider passing local council tax support on to parish and town councils.

  

• Councils plan largest council tax rise in 13 years

  Council Tax levels will increase by an average of 5.1% across England in 2018/19, the largest rise for 13 years, ministers have confirmed.

  

• Councils given power to double council tax on empty homes

  Councils will be allowed to double the rate of council tax on long-term empty properties under new legislation announced today.

  

• IFS implores action over growing social care funding chasm

  The Government will need to scrap its funding reforms, significantly boost top-ups or centralise care if it is to plug the social care funding gap, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned today.

  

• Scrap 'outdated and regressive council tax, says think tank

  Council tax is ‘outdated and regressive’, and the Government should consider scrapping it in favour of a fairer system, according to a think tank.

  

• Council approves 12.5% council tax rise

  Pembrokeshire County Council has agreed to increase council tax by 12.5% for 2018/19.

  

• Scottish households on low income ‘missing out’ on tax exemption

  Fewer than 4% of Scottish households eligible for council tax exemption are claiming the new benefit, research reveals.

  

• Council tax set for biggest rise in 14 years, figures show

  Council tax payers face the sharpest rise in their taxes for 14 years, according to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy figures (CIPFA). 

  

• Council tax increases not enough to stop cuts to services, warn town hall chiefs

  Services will continue to be cut back despite proposed council tax increases, council chiefs warn.