The number of local authorities applying for cash to freeze council tax levels has decreased by around a quarter compared with last year, official figures have shown.

More than three in five English local authorities (61%) have accepted the government's cash grant to freeze council tax levels next year, statistics issued by the DCLG today indicate.

In all 257 of 421 eligible local authorities took their share of the £450m made available over the next two years to pay for this year's freeze. 

However, this marks a 24% fall in last year's numbers, when 358 councils and local authorities – representing 85% of the total -  signed up to the Government funding deal.

The average Band D council tax for England for 2013/14 will be £1,456 – a slight 0.8% increase on 2012/13's average £1,444.

In district shires the average Band D will be £1,510, in unitary areas £1,486, in metropolitan areas £1,421 and £1,302 in London boroughs.

Parish precepts have seen an average 5.4% Band D hike to £50.33, brining the total raised to £368m.  Such a move is in strict defiance of the call made by community secretary Eric Pickles last December at NALC Larger Council's conference, where he urged local councillors to 'square any rises with their electorate' amid fears parish tax hikes were outstripping the rest of local government.