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Councils 'dodging democracy' over tax rises, says minister Councils 'dodging democracy' over tax rises, says Pickles
(about 7 hours later)
Some English councils are "dodging democracy" by not holding referendums on council tax rises, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has said.Some English councils are "dodging democracy" by not holding referendums on council tax rises, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has said.
Those not freezing council tax this year should "man up" and consult the public, href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9830660/Minister-at-war-over-cheating-councils.html" >he told the Daily Telegraph. Those not freezing council tax should "man up" and consult the public, href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9830837/Eric-Pickles-why-councils-should-heed-our-quiet-revolution.html" >he wrote in the Daily Telegraph.
Ministers want a third year of council tax freezes, and have said those councils in England raising taxes above 2% should hold a public vote. Ministers want a third year of council tax freezes, and have said those councils in England raising taxes by 2% or more must hold a public vote.
The Local Government Association said councils were under strain due to cuts.The Local Government Association said councils were under strain due to cuts.
Mr Pickles told the Telegraph some local authorities were "cheating their taxpayers" and pledged to introduce new laws to stop abuse of the system. In an article for the Telegraph, Mr Pickles said some local authorities were "cheating their taxpayers" and warned: "Anybody using loop holes will lose out next year."
He also described council tax as a "stealth tax".
'Reality check'
"The days of the knee-jerk tax and spend hike are over," he said."The days of the knee-jerk tax and spend hike are over," he said.
He raised the prospect of lowering the threshold for a referendum in future and said he would legislate to close any other loopholes which enable councils to avoid such votes. He revealed that only about a third of councils had committed to freezing local taxes in the next financial year, despite government calls for restraint.
He revealed that only about a third of councils had committed to freezing local taxes in the next financial year, despite government calls for restraint as households faced difficult economic times. The government cannot force councils to freeze bills, but it has said they have a "moral duty" to do so rather than raise them in line with inflation.
'Knee-jerk tax' Ministers have legislated so that any local authority increasing levies by more than 2% must hold a referendum and an authority which loses such a vote would have to revert to a lower increase in bills.
The government cannot force councils to freeze bills, but it has demanded local authorities do so rather than raising them in line with inflation. According to the Telegraph, some councils have taken legal advice and are planning to "increase waste and transport costs by more than the cap".
Ministers have said any local authority increasing levies by more than 2% must hold a referendum and an authority which loses such a vote should have to revert to a lower increase in bills. Others have opted to put up taxes by 1.99% - prompting the communities and local government secretary to denounce them as "democracy dodgers" who "need a reality check".
But according to the Daily Telegraph, some councils have taken legal advice to put up taxes by 1.99% - a practice denounced by the communities and local government secretary as "dodging democracy". Mr Pickles said he was not opposed to tax rises that would "fund local opportunities", but said authorities must "be straight with people", and win over the public before implementing them.
Those putting up "their stealth tax" in this way "need a reality check", said Mr Pickles. 'Quiet revolutionaries'
He added he was not opposed to tax rises, but that authorities must win over the public before implementing them.
"If the public believes you've got a sensible case they might well listen. But councils should also stop treating residents with contempt.""If the public believes you've got a sensible case they might well listen. But councils should also stop treating residents with contempt."
He praised Essex and Greater Manchester councils, which he said had plans to "save millions by improving services".
"Authorities need to ask the right questions," he said.
"Are we doing enough to cut out the waste? Are we doing enough to innovate? Are we putting our people first? Then they will realise cash-strapped taxpayers don't deserve needless tax rises."
The secretary of state added: "A growing band of quiet revolutionaries are starting to heed our call."
Mr Pickles said that 115 councils in England will freeze council tax as of April, out of a total of 351.
Responding to the comments, the Local Government Association said councils had faced bigger cuts than almost any other part of the public sector and these are taking a toll on services.Responding to the comments, the Local Government Association said councils had faced bigger cuts than almost any other part of the public sector and these are taking a toll on services.
About 115 councils out of 351 in England have said they will freeze council tax as of April.
In 2011, Chancellor George Osborne offered to give money to councils to limiting spending rises to 2.5% for 2012-13