Eric Pickles, the Local Government Secretary is telling residents to challenge council tax increases to combat corrupt authorities. In an interview Pickles stated that the “Conservatives in government have worked to keep council tax down, cutting bills across England by 11 per cent in real terms since 2010 (…) A further freeze offer is on the table this year, with extra government funding for councils which freeze their bills (…) I would encourage local taxpayers to ask their councillors to sign up to this freeze and demand an explanation why they are refusing extra funding if they do not”. The Lincolnshire county council for example, is planning to increase rates by 1.9% stating that the change is necessary for quality maintenance.
