Council taxation to 'rise by 3%'

Date: 25th February 2009

Council taxation will rise by an average of three per cent over the next year, according to official estimates.

Statistics compiled by the Local Government Association (LGA) reveal that the average bill from authorities up and down England will be set at £1,414.

Despite this, the association also forecast that income from council taxation will fall by around £2.5 billion during the coming 12 months.

Chairman of the LGA, Margaret Eaton, commented: "Money is tight for everyone and nobody likes paying more council tax and that it why town halls are making enormous efforts to keep bills down.

"Councils are responding to the fact that people are feeling the pinch and are revising down this year's council tax rises."

One local authority, Buckinghamshire County Council, has increased the taxation it charges by 63 per cent over the last ten years, the Bucks Free Press reported.