06 February 2024 , 08:19
509
0
Millions of Brits are set to face steep council tax rises again this April with local authorities beginning to publish their proposals.
Council tax is a bill you pay to your local council and the cost is set by your council and goes towards funding local services such as police and fire services, libraries and educational projects and bill collections. Each year, the Government publishes thresholds for council tax increases. however last year, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt changed the way councils in England can set their Council tax. Under the current rules, English local authorities can increase council tax by 5% annually without a referendum.
Last year the Treasury said 95% of councils increased their tax by 5% last year and a similar scenario is expected in 2024. A rise of 5% would add £103 a year to the typical Band D council tax taking the annual charge to £2,168 a year according to official Government data. Although the exact amount will vary across England depending on location.
In the last 12 months, two English councils - Birmingham Council and Nottingham City Council - have also issued Section 114 notices. This is essentially a declaration of bankruptcy and means the council has ceased all new spending on services that it is not obliged by law to provide, or that it has already committed to. Since 2018, seven councils have effectively declared bankruptcy.
When this happens, there is a chance that council tax will rise in the area significantly as councils can seek “special consideration” from the Government. Earlier this year fellow bankrupt council Croydon approved a council tax rise of 15%. It has been reported that both Birmingham and Nottingham could increase theirs by over 10% - however, this has not been officially confirmed.
Millions don't need to pay this 'priority' bill for the next two months
Local councils are starting to publish their proposals/consultations for the rate of council tax for the 2024/25 tax year. Below we have listed the areas which have shared their budget proposals for 2024/25, have launched consultations into their budget, or have discussed them in official cabinet meetings and with media outlets. The Mirror will update this list frequently over the coming few months.
List of areas that may see a council tax rise this April
North East
- North Tyneside - 5%
- Darlington - 4.99%
- Sunderland - 4.99%
- Newcastle - 4.99%
- Leeds - 4.99%
- York - 4.99%
North West
- Liverpool - 4.99%
- Cumberland - 5%
South East
- Swale - 2.99%
- Cambridgeshire - 5%
- Surrey - 4.99%
- West Sussex - 4.99%
- East Sussex - 4.99%
- Essex - 4.99%
Norfolk - 4.99%
Buckinghamshire - 4.99%
Southend - 4.99%
South West
- Cornwall - 5%
- Dorset - 5%
- Somerset - 10%
- West Devon - 2.99
Midlands
- Oxfordshire - 4.99%
- West Berkshire - 4.99%
- Herefordshire - 4.99%
- Staffordshire - 4.99%
- Leicestershire - 5%
- Birmingham - 10%
- Warwick - 8.5%
London
Couple's housing hell after finding mould on toothbrush and clothes
- Waltham Forest - 5%
- Croydon Council - 5%
- Hammersmith and Fulham - 4.99%
- Tower Hamlets - 4.99%
Those living in London can also face a rise of the Mayor's precept and this is collected by all 32 London's boroughs and the Corporation of London. The precept pays for services provided by the Greater London Authority (GLA).
- Mayor's precept - 8.6%