Millions of people in England face eye-watering above-inflation council tax rises in April, today’s spending review has revealed.
Councils will have the freedom to raise bills by up to 5% despite wages and inflation plummeting during the pandemic. Of the rises, 2% will be be able to go to general funds with 3% going to cash-strapped social care.
On top of this core increase, an extra £15 rise for a Band D home will be allowed for police commissioners. It means local residents will help plug councils' funding gaps despite the government providing £3bn of Covid support.
It comes despite around 2million public sector workers having their wages frozen, the minimum wage rising by just 19p an hour, and many benefits rising by just 27p a week.