Fifth of councils snub call to freeze their bills

ONE in five town halls is still holding out against the Coalition’s demand for a council tax freeze.

The stand- off means that as many as four million households face bills going up by between 3 and 3.5 per cent next month.

A typical benchmark Band D bill in England would rise by some £50.

Ministers have been trying to persuade town halls to hold down bills for the second year running.

But around 30 councils have indicated they will put their tax up – in all cases at or below the 3.5 per cent threshold that would force them to seek voter backing.

They have been called ‘referendum dodgers’ for avoiding calling a ballot they would probably lose.

Another 30 councils have yet to declare their intentions and have only a fortnight to do so.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: ‘With two weeks to go, we now know that the major- ity of councils, over 300 in fact, want to freeze bills for their residents in tough times.

‘Not everyone has set out their budget plans yet so I expect to see those taking up the Government’s freeze deal to climb further.

‘A minority of out- of-touch authorities that seem unwilling

‘Deeply unpopular’

to accept our offer should face up to the fact that it is unnecessary and it will hit hardworking households in the pocket.

‘Residents will spot that many neighbouring councils are able to offer to freeze.

‘After 1997 bills were allowed to double to around £120 a month – freezing council tax again is a very tangible way to show the public they’ll get the help they need.’

Ministers are aware of the impact of council tax rises, especially on middle-income earners struggling to pay mortgages on family houses, and on retired people with limited incomes who continue to live in family homes that attract heavy tax bills.

They also know that the effects of council tax are greatest in southern England, where bigger bills may lead to disaffection among traditional Tory voters.

Labour allowed council tax bills to more than double in the years after the 1997 election, provoking discontent which threatened to spill into civil unrest in 2003.

That year saw average council tax bills rise by 12.5 per cent.

Last year’s freeze was managed with the help of handouts from the Treasury.

This year authorities that freeze their bills will get the equivalent of 2.5 per cent of their council tax income in direct grants. Three councils – Brighton, Taunton Deane and Scarborough – had said they would put their tax up this year but have climbed down.