Middle England is set to experience council tax increases of as much as £250 underAngela Raynerhis controversial initiative to establish 'mega councils'
Studies have shown that people living in local authorities with more than half a million residents pay hundreds of pounds extra annually for services.
According to a study conducted by the District Councils' Network, the typical Band D charge in a council area with over 500,000 residents is £2,009, whereas areas with smaller populations have an average of £1,759.
Last year, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), led by Ms Rayner until she stepped down following her mistake of underpaying stamp duty on her new coastal property, suggested 'more straightforward frameworks' for local governance.
All 21 two-tier area town halls – where responsibilities are divided between county councils and districts – that encompass much of southern England and the Midlands were instructed to develop proposals for merging into single-tier authorities.
They were informed that the new entities, referred to as mega councils by detractors, should serve populations of at least 500,000 – though some smaller options have been proposed.
It is known that the department continues to support the reorganisation even after Ms Rayner left, implying that a significant portion of rural and suburban England might face tax increases of as much as £250.
The potential consequences of the merger could create a double blow for people living in the rural areas, after the department's separate actions to redirect funds from the countryside to cities that support Labour, with leaders claiming this will compel rural councils to increase bills to the highest possible level.
And it follows nearly all town meetingsincreased the council tax by the highest possible 5 per cent this year, even though Sir Keir Starmer had promised in 2023 to keep it unchanged,bringing the average bill to £2,280.
Last night, Sam Chapman-Allen, head of the District Councils' Network, stated: 'We are informed that reorganisation will reduce expenses, yet the data indicates that large unitary councils, as the Government plans, result in higher council tax charges for their residents.'
Sir James Cleverly, the Conservative Party's representative on local government, stated: 'Labour consistently believes that a larger government equates to a more effective government.'
In truth, it refers to a top-down reorganization that disregards local views, undermines regional characteristics and identity, and results in increased costs for households, with no proof that this method will lead to improved services.
An MHCLG representative stated: 'Local councils determine their own tax rates annually, with a referendum requirement for any proposed increases to safeguard taxpayers. The study referenced has clearly misinterpreted this fundamental principle.'
New analysis reveals that radical Labour policies could increase the cost of hiring a single employee by nearly £1,000.
New research indicates that Labour's 'anti-business' approaches could result in an additional cost of nearly £1,000 when employing one individual.
As Ms Rayner's radical Employment Rights Bill is set to return to the Commons today, data from the Conservatives indicate that the provisions in the legislation willadd £154 for each employee annually.
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