COUNCIL TAX

Scrap council tax referendum limits, says DCN

District councils should have the powers to increase council tax referendum limits to at least 10% as a first step to scrapping them altogether, district council chiefs say.

District councils should have the powers to increase council tax referendum limits to at least 10% as a first step to scrapping them altogether, district council chiefs say.

The District Council Network (DCN) has published a new prospectus setting out how a partnership between the new Government and district councils can help transform local places.

One of its main asks is that councils be given greater freedoms and flexibilities to raise income and support themselves.

The prospectus urges the next government to empower councils to increase fees to recover the full cost of planning and licensing services.

It also calls for local housing authorities to be allowed to retain all the extra income from the council tax supplement on second homes.

The network is also asking the next government to give councils more local control of business taxes and increase business rates retention to 75% of receipts.

COUNCIL TAX

Where has the Budget left adult social care?

By Hiba Sameen | 11 November 2024

Lucinda Allen and Hiba Sameen examine the impact of the Budget on adult social care – the good, the bad and the ugly.

COUNCIL TAX

Shadow minister looks set for a finance focus

By Paul Marinko | 11 November 2024

The new shadow local government minister is expected to strongly support the need to reinforce the sector’s finances and to seek a solution on social care. P...

COUNCIL TAX

Co-production is the key to success

By Georgina Walton | 08 November 2024

Georgina Walton and David Rees look at how the innovative use of co-production at Kent CC is improving the deployment of technology enabled care to support t...

COUNCIL TAX

Innovating to survive

By Michael Burton | 07 November 2024

Scottish council HR professionals meet next week for their annual conference against a backdrop of tight budgets and workforce shortages, reports Michael Bur...

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