Council tax vetoes to be offered?
30 July 2010
Members of the public could be able to block council tax increases in the future, under new plans from the coalition government.
Categories:
Local government
By Helen Mayson
A new consultation published by the Department for Communities and Local Government suggested that council tax capping powers could be handed from ministers to local people.
Under the plans, if council tax rises hit a predetermined level, a referendum would be held.
Communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles said: "Hard-working families and pensioners were left feeling powerless and frustrated under the previous government, as council tax bills doubled while their frontline services like weekly bin collections were halved.
"If councils want to increase council tax further, they will have to prove the case to the electorate. Let the people decide."
The new veto powers could be in place by 2012.
Earlier this year, council tax was cut in real terms for many people, with households across the nation seeing a 1.6% rise in council tax bills - the lowest increase since the tax's introduction in 1993.
