Council tax 'to rise £370 by 2013'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The organisation, which campaigns for lower taxes, said the average band D bill would increase from £1,321 in 2007/8 to £1,691 in 2013.

Its figures were based on projections in the Pre-Budget Report (PBR) which suggested a 5% rise each year.

Matthew Sinclair, policy analyst at the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "These new rises will mean more pain for council tax payers, particularly retired people who are the ones that suffer most from this unfair tax.

"With no clear accountability for council tax rises it is too easy for Government to blame councils and councils to blame Government when big new bills land on people's doormats.

"Taxpayers need a cut in council tax, not inflation-busting increases."

The claims were dismissed by the Government as "utter nonsense". A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: "The PBR figures are not a prediction of the rate at which councils will set their council tax.

"Every year people misinterpret the information in the PBR. Last year they said it predicted an increase of 5.8% but the actual average council tax increase was 4.2%.

"In 2006/07, people alleged council tax would increase by 6.6% but the actual average was 4.5% and in 2005/06 the alleged figure was 6.8% compared to the actual average of 4.1%.

"Council tax increases are determined annually by local authorities, not by the Government. The Government expects to see an average overall council tax increase of well below 5%."