Taxes may rise in bid to boost northern councils

DEPUTY PM RAYNER REVEALS PLANS FOR NEW FORMULA

- By SIMON FINLAY Local democracy reporter

KENT'S council taxpayers could see their bills rise in order to fund local projects in the north, according to reports in the national press.

Last month Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner launched a consultation on plans for “progressive” redistribution of funding from central government via a new formula.

According to a report in the Times, published ahead of the consultation’s release on June 20, the plans could lead to a drop in funding for the wealthier councils - particularly in London and the south-east - forcing them to raise council tax or impose further service cuts.

In the official announcement of the “Fair Funding Review 2.0” Mrs Rayner stated: “We need to take the next, crucial step towards a fairer, simpler funding system that targets money where it is most needed, to the benefit of working families.

“Too many areas have felt the combined impact of reducing government support and low historical tax bases to raise income from.