In 2007 the only council to cut the Council Tax was Hammersmith and Fulham. This year the Council Tax cutters are still are rather exclusive club – but it is an important achievement. It has especially challenging for councils that have seen cuts in grant from central Government – as well as being especially important given the squeeze on real incomes after years of recession.
The DCLG are keeping a list of those councils that are freezing or cutting Council Tax. Those identified, thus far, as planning a reduction are the following:
London
Barnet
Greater London Authority
Hammersmith & Fulham
Hounslow
Unitary Authorities
Windsor & Maidenhead UA
Shire Districts
Braintree
Brentwood
South Oxfordshire
Uttlesford
Not included in the list are Croydon and Kensington and Chelsea. They are reducing Council Tax bills for the coming year with one-off cash rebates. That will still be most welcome to their residents. So at least five of the 32 London boroughs are cutting Council Tax – plus the whole of London will benefit from the cut by Boris Johnson in the Council Tax precept.
There is also Stafford which has announced a two per cent reduction. The reaction of the opposition Labour councillors was to abstain – and express anger at not being consulted.
Shepway Council is planning a cut of 0.5 per cent.
With the exception of Hounslow (which is cutting by 0.5 per cent) all the tax cutting councils are Conservative.