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Council Tax

Asked by Sir James CleverlyConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 16 June 2026UIN 8564

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the changes in council tax bills from council tax equalisation during unitary local government restructuring will be subject to the council tax referendum thresholds.

Answered by Alison McGovern

Where new councils inherit different levels of council tax from their predecessors, legislation provides for them to be harmonised no later than the start of the eighth year after the restructuring. The multi-year settlement set out that for the vast majority of councils the government has maintained a core referendum threshold of 3%, and a 2% adult social care precept, subject to annual consultation as part of the local government finance settlement and the approval of the House of Commons. This includes restructuring authorities.

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