Council tax bills set for ‘lowest rise’ in April

The average cost of Band D council tax bills in England for 2010/11 is set to increase by the lowest percentage since the tax was introduced in 1993. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and local authorities predict rises of below 2%. A CIPFA survey suggests the average bill will be about £1,438.72.  CIPFA head of policy Ian Carruthers said although politicians had listened to calls to ‘avoid large increases’, financial pressures meant councils might still have to cut certain services.