Council tax up 5pc in biggest rise for 15 years

HOUSEHOLDS are facing the biggest council tax rise in nearly 15 years, with average bills set to go up by 5.1per cent.

The bill for the average Band D property in England will be £80 higher this year than in 2017-18, rising to £1,671.

Nearly every council responsible for adult social care will take advantage of a precept that allows them to increase bills by an additional 3per cent.

The biggest rise will be in shire areas, where average council tax bills will hit £1,749, up by £86, while the average Band D household in London will pay £1,405, an increase of £55.

Council leaders said caps on bills since the Conservatives took power had left them with “little choice” but to ask residents to pay more as they struggled to balance the books.

However, Sajid Javid, the Communities Secretary, said that bills had been lower in real terms since 2010. In December, Mr Javid announced a one percentage point increase to 2.99per cent in the maximum rise permitted without triggering a local referendum.