12.07.13
Council tax should be set locally – CIPFA
A new discussion paper sets out “tough questions” for the future of local government, launched by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting (CIPFA).
The paper includes the suggestion that local authorities should be given more freedom over setting council tax rates, and raises concerns over sufficient capacity from local voluntary groups to meet a true shift to a big society, and if reform of business rates could lead to a race to the bottom.
Speaking at CIPFA’s Annual Conference in London on 11 July on the launch of the paper, CIPFA’s CEO Steve Freer said: “We need to see meaningful engagement with local public bodies and for the rhetoric of localism to fast become a reality.
“We’ve heard over the past few days of CIPFA conference how well local public services have managed the impact of reduced funding so far.
“However public sector leaders both here and in our research are expressing major concerns for the sustainability of frontline services over the next few years.”
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