HOUSEHOLDS FACE 4% RISE IN COUNCIL TAX BILLS

First published by: This is Money

Council Tax bills will go up an average 4% - 85p a week - in April, according to an early survey of proposed town hall budgets.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said the increase, based on responses from more than 150 councils and police and fire authorities, would take the average annual bill to £1,145.

Ministers have demanded rises well below 5%, threatening to cap higher levels despite council bosses' warning they would have to cut services instead.

LGA chairman Sir Simon Milton said: 'Nobody likes paying more Council Tax but this year town halls are making enormous efforts to keep bills down. It is a testament to the determination of councils that the average rise is likely to be close to the rate of inflation.

'Keeping Council Tax down has been made harder by several Government departments shifting extra costs on to councils whilst limiting funding from central Government to a real terms 1% increase.

'Council Tax would have been a lot lower with a more realistic central Government grant.'

READ WHAT: ERIC PICKLES ‘SECRETARY OF STATE’ SAYS ABOUT OVER-CHARGED COUNCIL TAX 

ARE YOU PAYING TOO MUCH COUNCIL TAX - COUNCIL TAX CHECKER