division_name: Council Tax: Government&#8217;s Proposed Increase
motion: <p class="indent" pid="d23.3/2" pwmotiontext="yes">That this House calls on the Prime Minister to drop the Government&#8217;s plans to force local councils to increase council tax in the middle of a pandemic by providing councils with funding to meet the Government&#8217;s promise to do whatever is necessary to support councils in the fight against covid-19.</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="d26.0/2" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;notes that council tax doubled under the last Labour Government, but has fallen in real terms in England since 2010; asserts that council budgets are a local decision for elected councillors and mayors, but local taxpayers are now protected from excessive council tax increases, a policy opposed by the LGA Labour Group; disagrees with the Labour Party&#8217;s &#8216;Land for the Many&#8217; proposals to hit hard-working families and pensioners with a new homes tax; notes that the biggest increases in council tax have been under the Labour Government in Wales thanks to their council tax revaluation and lack of referendum protections; welcomes the fact that Conservative councils set the lowest average Band D rates; and further welcomes the additional government funding of over &#163;30 billion provided by the Government to support councils during the Covid-19 pandemic.&#8221;.</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="d27.3/4" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;we are disappointed that the ability to increase locally determined Council Tax has been reduced and that&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="d27.3/6" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;can&#8230;only be increased by 2%&#8221;&#8212;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="d37.0/5" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;Now is not the time to raise taxes; the economy is still weak and the recovery only just starting.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="d37.0/8" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;The government stands ready to do whatever is necessary to support councils in their response to coronavirus, the Local Government Secretary confirmed to council leaders today (<phrase class="date" code="2021-03-16">16 March</phrase> 2020).&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="d44.0/3" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;The opposition had asked for a serious debate, which is exactly what parliament is for.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="d68.0/4" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;Labour&#8230;demanding that the Government reverse its plans to force councils to raise council tax&#8221;&#8212;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="d69.0/4" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;an effective council delivering good quality citizen-focused services to its residents.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="d69.0/6" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;There is financial stability in the organisation and the Council has a proven track record of delivering savings while maintaining front-line services over a long period of time&#8212;this is impressive.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="d70.0/3" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;do whatever is necessary to support councils&#8221;.</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="d77.8/2" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;plans to force local councils to increase council tax&#8221;&#8212;</p>