Almost a third of councils in England make more money from services such as parking, recreation and school meals than council tax, a survey suggests.
Almost a third of councils in England make more money from services such as parking, recreation and school meals than council tax, a survey suggests.
The Audit Commission found local authorities had made £10.8bn from charges and fees in 2006/07 - equivalent to £210 per person.
The Audit Commission found local authorities had made £10.8bn from charges and fees in 2006/07 - equivalent to £210 per person.
For 114 out of 386 councils surveyed, this raised more than council tax.
For 114 out of 386 councils surveyed, this raised more than council tax.
The commission urged local authorities to use service charging strategically, to combat deprivation and pollution.
The commission urged local authorities to use service charging strategically, to combat deprivation and pollution.
'Pressures'
'Pressures'
Audit Commission chairman Michael O'Higgins said: "Councils raise half as much from charging for services as they do from council tax, yet the issue attracts much less attention than it deserves.
Audit Commission chairman Michael O'Higgins said: "Councils raise half as much from charging for services as they do from council tax, yet the issue attracts much less attention than it deserves.
"The public is more willing to pay charges if they can see what they can get for their money.
"The public is more willing to pay charges if they can see what they can get for their money.
"They need to know why the council has decided to charge for some services, but subsidise others.
"They need to know why the council has decided to charge for some services, but subsidise others.
"With pressures on public finances and rising expectations, councils should look at what they charge and who pays so they can make better use of charging to improve outcomes for local people."
"With pressures on public finances and rising expectations, councils should look at what they charge and who pays so they can make better use of charging to improve outcomes for local people."
Altogether, council tax raised £22.4bn in 2006/07.
Altogether, council tax raised £22.4bn in 2006/07.
Meanwhile, local authorities made £2.3bn from charges for social services, such as residential care, homecare, daycare and meals.
Meanwhile, local authorities made £2.3bn from charges for social services, such as residential care, homecare, daycare and meals.
Some £2bn came from education services, including school meals, adult education and early years provision.
Some £2bn came from education services, including school meals, adult education and early years provision.
Families have been hit the hardest by these higher costs Eric PicklesConservatives
Families have been hit the hardest by these higher costs Eric PicklesConservatives
Another £1.5bn was made from roads and transport services, including parking, public transport and congestion charging.
Another £1.5bn was made from roads and transport services, including parking, public transport and congestion charging.
The commission's report - called Positively Charged - says councils' charging for services often appears "unrelated to local deprivation".
The commission's report - called Positively Charged - says councils' charging for services often appears "unrelated to local deprivation".
It also urges authorities to set tariffs more strategically, for instance cutting the cost of sports activities in disadvantaged areas.
It also urges authorities to set tariffs more strategically, for instance cutting the cost of sports activities in disadvantaged areas.
Councils could raise the cost of town-centre parking where they want to ease congestion and pollution - or reduce it where they want to boost shopping - the report adds.
Councils could raise the cost of town-centre parking where they want to ease congestion and pollution - or reduce it where they want to boost shopping - the report adds.
A Communities and Local Government spokesman said: "It is local authorities that set charging policy and it is disingenuous to suggest otherwise."
A Communities and Local Government spokesman said: "It is local authorities that set charging policy and it is disingenuous to suggest otherwise."
'Fiddled funding'
'Fiddled funding'
He said the government had increased funding in local government by 45% between 1997 and 2011, including an extra £920m in core grant next year.
He said the government had increased funding in local government by 45% between 1997 and 2011, including an extra £920m in core grant next year.
"Councils must not see raising income - whether through charges or taxation - as an alternative to cutting out waste and driving down expenditure," the spokesman said.
"Councils must not see raising income - whether through charges or taxation - as an alternative to cutting out waste and driving down expenditure," the spokesman said.
"Anyone who pays either a tax or a charge for a local service has the right to expect that the authority will keep costs down and improve efficiency."
"Anyone who pays either a tax or a charge for a local service has the right to expect that the authority will keep costs down and improve efficiency."
Tory shadow local government secretary Eric Pickles said: "We already knew that council tax bills have doubled under Gordon Brown.
Tory shadow local government secretary Eric Pickles said: "We already knew that council tax bills have doubled under Gordon Brown.
"Now it is clear that Labour's fiddled funding and new burdens imposed from above have forced stealth charges to double as well. Families have been hit the hardest by these higher costs.
"Now it is clear that Labour's fiddled funding and new burdens imposed from above have forced stealth charges to double as well. Families have been hit the hardest by these higher costs.
"This is engineered from Whitehall, but with local councillors left to take the blame when parking charges rise or new fees imposed for using local services."
"This is engineered from Whitehall, but with local councillors left to take the blame when parking charges rise or new fees imposed for using local services."
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