Showing 13 to 24 of 29 results
Awful April": UK Households Face Steep Cost Increases
From April 2025, UK households face sharp rises in council tax (up to 9.5%), energy bills (£111), water bills (average £120), car tax (£5-£620 depending on the vehicle), stamps (3-5p), and TV licenses (£5), although some benefits will rise modestly.
Awful April": UK Households Face Steep Cost Increases
From April 2025, UK households face sharp rises in council tax (up to 9.5%), energy bills (£111), water bills (average £120), car tax (£5-£620 depending on the vehicle), stamps (3-5p), and TV licenses (£5), although some benefits will rise modestly.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Falkirk Faces UK's Largest Council Tax Hike at 15.6%
Falkirk, Scotland, is facing a 15.6% council tax hike, the UK's largest, impacting tens of thousands of residents and prompting threats against a councillor who proposed the increase; the council cites increased demand for services and years of suppressed tax rates as reasons for the rise.
Falkirk Faces UK's Largest Council Tax Hike at 15.6%
Falkirk, Scotland, is facing a 15.6% council tax hike, the UK's largest, impacting tens of thousands of residents and prompting threats against a councillor who proposed the increase; the council cites increased demand for services and years of suppressed tax rates as reasons for the rise.
Progress
56% Bias Score
Record Council Tax Hikes Hit Scotland Amidst Funding Crisis
Scottish local authorities are implementing some of the largest council tax increases in two decades, with Orkney Islands raising taxes by 15% and other regions such as Falkirk and East Dunbartonshire proposing double-digit increases to cover a £100 million funding gap caused by rising costs and inc...
Record Council Tax Hikes Hit Scotland Amidst Funding Crisis
Scottish local authorities are implementing some of the largest council tax increases in two decades, with Orkney Islands raising taxes by 15% and other regions such as Falkirk and East Dunbartonshire proposing double-digit increases to cover a £100 million funding gap caused by rising costs and inc...
Progress
48% Bias Score
Council Tax Hikes Hit 90% of English Councils
Most English councils plan to raise council tax by 4.99% from April, with six exceptions exceeding this due to financial hardship; this disproportionately affects low-income households.
Council Tax Hikes Hit 90% of English Councils
Most English councils plan to raise council tax by 4.99% from April, with six exceptions exceeding this due to financial hardship; this disproportionately affects low-income households.
Progress
48% Bias Score
Regressive Council Tax Burden Mirrors Poll Tax Issues
Analysis reveals that the poorest fifth of British households paid 4.8% of their income on council tax in 2020-21, up from 2.9% in 2002-03, highlighting a regressive tax system that disproportionately burdens low-income families and mirrors issues associated with the poll tax.
Regressive Council Tax Burden Mirrors Poll Tax Issues
Analysis reveals that the poorest fifth of British households paid 4.8% of their income on council tax in 2020-21, up from 2.9% in 2002-03, highlighting a regressive tax system that disproportionately burdens low-income families and mirrors issues associated with the poll tax.
Progress
56% Bias Score
Scottish Borders Council Announces 10% Council Tax Hike
The Scottish Borders Council announced a 10% council tax increase for 2025/26, raising an additional £7m for vital services despite receiving £19m in extra government funding, which is largely allocated to the Real Living Wage and free school meals.
Scottish Borders Council Announces 10% Council Tax Hike
The Scottish Borders Council announced a 10% council tax increase for 2025/26, raising an additional £7m for vital services despite receiving £19m in extra government funding, which is largely allocated to the Real Living Wage and free school meals.
Progress
48% Bias Score
Widespread Maximum Council Tax Hikes Hit English Households
In England, 88% of 153 upper-tier authorities will raise council tax by 4.99% in April 2025, the maximum allowed without a referendum, impacting most households for the third consecutive year due to more than a decade of funding cuts and rising care costs.
Widespread Maximum Council Tax Hikes Hit English Households
In England, 88% of 153 upper-tier authorities will raise council tax by 4.99% in April 2025, the maximum allowed without a referendum, impacting most households for the third consecutive year due to more than a decade of funding cuts and rising care costs.
Progress
48% Bias Score
English Council Merger Plans Face Widespread Opposition
A survey of 150 English councils reveals widespread opposition to government plans to reorganize local government by merging councils, citing high costs, increased uncertainty, and minimal savings, while councils prepare for service cuts and tax increases.
English Council Merger Plans Face Widespread Opposition
A survey of 150 English councils reveals widespread opposition to government plans to reorganize local government by merging councils, citing high costs, increased uncertainty, and minimal savings, while councils prepare for service cuts and tax increases.
Progress
56% Bias Score
30 English Councils Receive £1.5bn Bailouts Amidst Financial Crisis
A record 30 English local authorities received £1.5bn in emergency loans to avoid bankruptcy, as the government prohibited them from selling off public assets to repay debts, highlighting a broader crisis in local government finance.
30 English Councils Receive £1.5bn Bailouts Amidst Financial Crisis
A record 30 English local authorities received £1.5bn in emergency loans to avoid bankruptcy, as the government prohibited them from selling off public assets to repay debts, highlighting a broader crisis in local government finance.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Scottish Borders Council Raises Council Tax by 10 Percent Amid Funding Crisis
Scottish Borders Council implemented a 10 percent council tax increase, adding £178 annually for a Band E property, to fund free school meals and increased worker pay despite receiving £19 million from the Scottish Government; this follows a decade-long SNP-imposed tax freeze that left councils unde...
Scottish Borders Council Raises Council Tax by 10 Percent Amid Funding Crisis
Scottish Borders Council implemented a 10 percent council tax increase, adding £178 annually for a Band E property, to fund free school meals and increased worker pay despite receiving £19 million from the Scottish Government; this follows a decade-long SNP-imposed tax freeze that left councils unde...
Progress
56% Bias Score
Scotland Councils Face £392 Million Budget Shortfall, Propose Tax Hikes
Scotland's 32 councils face a combined £392 million budget shortfall, potentially rising to £780 million next year, leading many to propose council tax increases of up to 10% to offset rising costs and increased service demands.
Scotland Councils Face £392 Million Budget Shortfall, Propose Tax Hikes
Scotland's 32 councils face a combined £392 million budget shortfall, potentially rising to £780 million next year, leading many to propose council tax increases of up to 10% to offset rising costs and increased service demands.
Progress
44% Bias Score
Bradford Council proposes near 15% council tax hike
Bradford Council, facing a £40 million annual budget deficit, proposes a council tax increase of up to 14.99% starting April, exceeding the threshold for a local referendum; this follows a £220 million government loan and previous spending cuts, yet the council still faces financial challenges.
Bradford Council proposes near 15% council tax hike
Bradford Council, facing a £40 million annual budget deficit, proposes a council tax increase of up to 14.99% starting April, exceeding the threshold for a local referendum; this follows a £220 million government loan and previous spending cuts, yet the council still faces financial challenges.
Progress
48% Bias Score
Showing 13 to 24 of 29 results