ARE PARISH PRECEPTS TO BE FROZEN?

Local (parish and town) councils could be forced to pay back excessive council tax levies following a referendum under plans announced by communities secretary Eric Pickles.

The government said it wanted to introduce legislation to allow people to vote down tax increases at the earliest opportunity. Under the plans a referendum would be automatically triggered if a local council raises precept above a level set by ministers.

Communities and Local Government (CLG) published a consultation document on Local Referendums to Veto Excessive Council Tax Increases. The consultation document sets out the basic principles underpinning the proposed scheme and seeks views on the practicality and technical feasibility of the mechanisms for triggering and holding a referendum.

The scope of the consultation includes local precepting authorities – local (parish or town) councils and the chairman of a parish meeting – whose precept levels are at risk of being capped.

According to NALC the document provides a very limited rationale and explanation for the inclusion of our local councils in the proposed scheme. The government highlights its growing awareness in recent years of the council tax increases set by local precepting authorities, and of the very high precept increases set by some local (parish and town) councils in particular.


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