Millions of Brits are facing unprecedented council tax hikes as debt-ridden local authorities scramble to raise money under severe financial pressure.
Local authorities are around £140billion in debt after years of borrowing, unfavourable PFI projects and mounting pension and social care costs.
The country’s 20 most indebted councils owe a whopping £30billion alone, with Birmingham City Council owing around £8,000 per household.
Council tax, an important revenue raiser for local governments, can only be raised by 4.99 per cent a year however without their being a referendum for local taxpayers.
But as taxpayers would never vote to pay more tax, councils are attempting to exploit a loophole to be granted permission to raise the tax without a referendum.
The loophole is called a Section 114 notice which, if signed off by Angela Rayner in her role as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, allows councils to effectively declare themselves bankrupt and allow themselves to go for higher tax rises.
GB News has explored data from various local government sites and generated a map of council tax rates across England, Scotland and Wales. Note not all councils have been able to be included.
By hovering over your area, you will see your current council tax rate, the increase in percentage terms and the increase as a figure per year.
Council tax rates across Britain
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Rates
It reveals a massive discrepancy between local authorities’ council tax rates.
Rutland, Dorset and Northumberland taxpayers all pay around £2,500 per year for example, while taxpayers in Surrey, Essex or Lancashire all pay around £1,500.
Interestingly, London has some of the cheapest council tax rates with Wandsworth and Westminster paying less than a £1,000 per annum, and the most expensive with Kingston-upon-Thames paying £2,375.
Top ten cheapest council tax rates in England and Wales
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Most expensive council tax rates
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The map also highlighted Scotland which charges significantly less than its home nation counterparts.
This is because council tax in Scotland is frozen by the Scottish government. The freeze will continue to be fully funded by the Scottish government this year, meaning council tax rates in Scotland will remain the same in the 2024-25 council tax year.
In Wales, rates are broadly the same as in England, with Bridgend and Neath/Port Talbot the most expensive regions at around £2,200.
Increases
In terms of increases, data was available for Wales and Scotland in full, but it was not available for all local authorities in England.
However, work by the County Councils Network revealed virtually every county council in England is increasing council tax by the maximum 4.99 per cent, covering vast swathes of the country.
Councils seeking rises of over 5 per cent have been reported on widely by national and local press, making data scraping possible.
It revealed the following councils are attempting the largest council tax increases using the section 114 loophole. (Values displayed are for an average Band D home.)
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The largest council tax increases per year for an average Band D property
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It is worth reiterating these rises have not been approved yet officially.
In London, councils are currently generating their plans for council tax. Greenwich, Havering, Tower Hamlets, Croydon and Islington have all confirmed 4.99 per cent rises, while Newham is seeking a 9.99 percent rise.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner is expected to confirm or reject local authority requests for exceptional support or above 5 per cent council tax increases by mid February.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “No decisions have been made on council tax increases and we will only consider agreeing to requests for rises above 5 per cent in exceptional circumstances, in line with the previous government’s position.
“Councils are ultimately responsible for setting their own council tax, and we will put taxpayers at the forefront of any decision.”