25/03/2004

Average council tax rises by almost 6%

The average council tax for a Band D property will increase by 5.9% this coming year, it has been announced today.

Two adults occupying a Band D property will pay an average of £1,167 in 2004/5, compared to £1,102 last year.

The increase is less than half last year's average increase of 12.9% and is the lowest rise for nine years.

Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford said last year's increases were "completely unsustainable".

He added: "Councils therefore cannot justify excessive rises - to us or to their electorate. Many authorities have heeded this message and have set lower council taxes than those they originally proposed. However, some authorities have not."

Mr Raynsford said that the government would "examine carefully" whether to use capping powers on councils that propose excessive rises.

"We aim to notify any authorities which may be in line for capping by the end of next month," he said.

(gmcg)

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