'Don't kick council taxpayers in the teeth', says local government minister Bob Neill

Local Government Minister Bob Neill urged "wobbling" councils to follow the example of Tory-run Westminster which says it will freeze the levy to keep bills down.

He said: "Hard-working families have to count the pounds and pennies. At a time when public and private sector workers are facing pay freezes, the last thing they need is to see their council tax bill get even bigger.

"This month, councils have an important opportunity to help hard-working families and pensioners with the cost of living. Anything less is a kick in the teeth to London taxpayers."

Local authorities across the capital will announce in the coming weeks whether they intend to increase their rates or take up government money and freeze them.

So far Westminster has proposed a freeze and Conservative-controlled Hammersmith & Fulham has said its rate will be cut by 3.75 per cent.

Last year all eligible councils in the capital took up government money to freeze the tax, saving typical families £72 a year on Band D homes.

Around half have already announced they will repeat the saving this year after the Coalition provided £675 million in extra funding.

The rest are set to make a decision by mid-March. They include Lewisham, Greenwich, Richmond and Haringey, according to Mr Neill's department.

But ministers are worried some will follow the example of Nottingham, Brighton and Leicester and raise bills even as government cuts bite.

Mr Neill said the wavering boroughs were being "leant upon by municipal officers who want to fill their town hall coffers", and encouraged Standard readers to write to councillors calling for a freeze.

Earlier this month Boris Johnson announced he was cutting his share of council tax in a bid to counter Ken Livingstone's transport fares cut pledge.

The Mayor claimed it was a break from the "contempt for London taxpayers" shown by his rival but Labour claimed the one per cent cut was only enough to buy an onion a week.