"Reform-led Worcestershire county council is likely to issue England's largest council tax rise this April after it was given special permission by the government to increase it by up to 9%. Worcestershire is one of a handful of authorities whose requests to be allowed to increase local rates above the standard 5% cap from April have been accepted by ministers."
"Ministers have also announced the government will clear about 5bn of historical debts accumulated by English councils who have overspent on special educational needs and disability (Send) services in recent years. An extra 440m in so-called recovery grants for councils in economically deprived areas was unveiled, in a bid to head off criticism from northern Labour MPs that their local areas had lost out under a new funding distribution formula."
Reform-led Worcestershire county council has been granted permission to increase council tax by up to 9% from April and is likely to issue the largest rise in England. Seven authorities received approval to exceed the standard 5% cap, with ministers saying historically low tax rates justify bringing household bills up to average levels. Ministers will clear about 5bn of historical debts from overspending on special educational needs and disability services, covering roughly 90% of each local authority's SEND debt accumulated by this April. An extra 440m in recovery grants targets economically deprived areas and ministers framed the settlement as enabling councils to act as agents of renewal.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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