Closed 17 of 57 events
Threads / Council Tax Increases Referendums / Timeline
Lifecycle stage Response Published
88 days in stage

Council Tax Increases Referendums

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is modernising council tax administration and managing the referendum process for council tax increases in England. Recent reforms address council tax billing, debt collection procedures, and the principles governing when local authorities must hold referendums on significant tax rises.

Log in for AI briefing
Showing 17 of 57 signals
Sort Latest first Oldest first
Family 1
Signal
Year
Body
Role
Clear all
Family: Scrutiny and evidence
27 Apr 2026 | Written question Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing parish councils' staff with additional support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing parish councils' staff with additional support.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
27 Apr 2026 | Written question Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Community and Local Government, whether she has assessed the impact of recently announced changes to Council Tax bills and debt collection on local councils.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Community and Local Government, whether she has assessed the impact of recently announced changes to Council Tax bills and debt collection on local councils.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
24 Apr 2026 | Written question Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the change to the Housing Ombudsman Service's level of fees on the f

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the change to the Housing Ombudsman Service's level of fees on the financial burden on local authorities; and …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
23 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

Council tax is one of the main interactions with local government that residents will have. Giving councils more power over, and therefore more responsibility for, setting council tax will improve democratic engagement by residents. (Conclusion, Paragraph 157)

Council tax is one of the main interactions with local government that residents will have. Giving councils more power over, and therefore more responsibility for, setting council tax will improve democratic engagement by residents. (Conclusion, Paragraph 157) Type: conclusion | …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
23 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

The Government should begin the process of overhauling or replacing council tax. This should look at options for a significant reform of local government funding, which could include replacing council tax. Whatever form of taxation is eventually adopted, the Government must clearly set out the tax’s purpose, its economic impact, and its fairness. (Recommendation, Paragraph 158)

The Government should begin the process of overhauling or replacing council tax. This should look at options for a significant reform of local government funding, which could include replacing council tax. Whatever form of taxation is eventually adopted, the Government …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
23 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

A significant and considered reform of council tax will take several years to take effect. Until it does, the Government should devolve power and responsibility for setting council tax to councils. This should include the power for individual councils to revalue properties in their area, define property bands, and set the rates for those bands. Individual councils should also be given the power to apply or remove discounts and premiums (such as the single person discount), and to determine th...

A significant and considered reform of council tax will take several years to take effect. Until it does, the Government should devolve power and responsibility for setting council tax to councils. This should include the power for individual councils to …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
1 Feb 2024 | Committee report linked

There is widespread agreement that Council tax is outdated, regressive, and long overdue for reform. The Government’s increasing reliance on council tax to fund local authorities is causing a disproportionately negative impact on funding levels for authorities in the most deprived areas of England. The Government’s imposition of referendum thresholds for increasing council tax is restricting local authorities’ abilities to raise sufficient funding to fulfil their statutory responsibilities, i...

There is widespread agreement that Council tax is outdated, regressive, and long overdue for reform. The Government’s increasing reliance on council tax to fund local authorities is causing a disproportionately negative impact on funding levels for authorities in the most …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
1 Feb 2024 | Committee report linked

Furthermore, in the short-term, the Government must raise the referendum threshold for council tax at least in line with a relevant measure of inflation. In the longer- term we recommend that the Government considers removing the threshold entirely.

Furthermore, in the short-term, the Government must raise the referendum threshold for council tax at least in line with a relevant measure of inflation. In the longer- term we recommend that the Government considers removing the threshold entirely. Type: recommendation …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
1 Dec 2023 | Committee report linked

The Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 requires the year’s unpaid council tax balance to become payable in certain circumstances. This provision, and the speed with which it is applied, can be the catalyst for someone’s debts to quickly escalate. It is not clear, however, how much discretion local authorities have to agree repayment plans that spread the value of the unpaid balance over the rest of the year. The council tax collection best practice guidance, publish...

The Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 requires the year’s unpaid council tax balance to become payable in certain circumstances. This provision, and the speed with which it is applied, can be the catalyst for someone’s debts to quickly …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
1 Dec 2023 | Committee report linked

We strongly urge the Government to clarify the provision in the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 that requires the unpaid balance to become payable in certain circumstances. If local authorities do, under this provision, have the discretion not to require immediate repayment of the full unpaid balance, the Government should make this much clearer, either by updating the regulations or by amending the best practice guidance by the end of this Parliament.

We strongly urge the Government to clarify the provision in the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 that requires the unpaid balance to become payable in certain circumstances. If local authorities do, under this provision, have the discretion not …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
1 Dec 2023 | Committee report linked

In addition, by the end of this Parliament, the Government should amend existing regulations to enshrine in law the principle that collection should be based on a resident’s ability to pay, including by requiring local authorities to offer people affordable repayment plans when an unpaid balance becomes payable.

In addition, by the end of this Parliament, the Government should amend existing regulations to enshrine in law the principle that collection should be based on a resident’s ability to pay, including by requiring local authorities to offer people affordable …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
1 Dec 2023 | Committee report linked

The council tax collection best practice guidance, issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in 2021, does not set out specific standards expected of local authorities. We agree with the Government that local authorities’ need some discretion, but we see no reason why a statutory code of practice would unnecessarily constrain local authorities’ decision making.

The council tax collection best practice guidance, issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in 2021, does not set out specific standards expected of local authorities. We agree with the Government that local authorities’ need some discretion, …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
1 Dec 2023 | Committee report linked

The Government should carry out and publish research to assess different types of local council tax support schemes and how they relate to council tax arrears. In addition to collection rates and levels of arrears, the Government should also publish local authority level data on: methods used to engage with debtors; collection methods; the 38 Council Tax Collection number of affordable repayment plans set up; and reasons for arrears. The new Office for Local Government should have a role in c...

The Government should carry out and publish research to assess different types of local council tax support schemes and how they relate to council tax arrears. In addition to collection rates and levels of arrears, the Government should also publish …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
1 Dec 2023 | Committee report linked

The entire system for collecting council tax is outdated and not meeting its desired purpose. This has become increasingly problematic because councils are becoming ever more reliant on council tax for their budgets. In 2015/16, council tax made up 49.1% of core spending power. It now makes up 56.9% of core spending power in 2023/24. Councils are having to put up their council tax to provide much needed public services, which makes more and more residents vulnerable to falling into arrears.

The entire system for collecting council tax is outdated and not meeting its desired purpose. This has become increasingly problematic because councils are becoming ever more reliant on council tax for their budgets. In 2015/16, council tax made up 49.1% …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
1 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

We have heard strong arguments in favour of reform of council tax. We encourage the Government to consider how best to reform local taxation, taking account of recommendations from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee and we draw the Government’s attention to evidence submitted to this inquiry.

We have heard strong arguments in favour of reform of council tax. We encourage the Government to consider how best to reform local taxation, taking account of recommendations from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee and we draw the …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK