Senior council managers have demanded greater control over council tax beyond this year's government-funded ‘freeze', exclusive research by The MJ and the authoritative Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) has revealed.

More than 80% of senior town hall staff who responded to a joint MJ/LGiU survey on the Local Government Finance Bill said they wanted the freedom to increase council tax by whatever rate they deemed ‘appropriate' from 2013/14, rather than take another ‘deal' from the Government – such as the central funding for a 2.5% increase offered both last year and for 2012/13.