Newbury and Reading constituencies could be among hardest hit in council tax review

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

58% : After holding back on increases to income tax in the budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to rely on several smaller tax-raising measures to repair the public finances.
55% : All those councils were/are in receipt of emergency funding from the Govnernment, as West Berkshire Council is this year - to the tune of £16m. Council tax is one of the biggest outgoings for many households - so reports of a shake-up that could add thousands to some annual bills are causing concern.
55% : The main sources of income for local authorities are government grants, business rates and council tax, with the latter funding about a quarter of total spending on services.
54% : Earlier this year, the Government let six English councils with responsibility for social care increase council tax rates by more than national limits.
54% : Rates are set locally and it applies to residential properties, and increases in cash terms depend on their council tax band, which are based on property values from 1991.
52% : Birmingham, Bradford, Newham, Somerset, Trafford and Windsor and Maidenhead all increased levies by more than the other 147 social services authorities.
52% : A number of scenarios have emerged and one doubles council tax on properties in England's top two bands (G and H).
51% : Bradford raised council tax by 9.99 per cent, Newham and Windsor and Maidenhead by 8.99 per cent, and Birmingham, Somerset and Trafford by 7.49 per cent.
50% : Currently, councils are limited to a 4.99 per cent annual rise in council tax, which West Berkshire has maintained.
50% : Of the ideas still on the table, one is some form of 'mansion tax' that gets the owners of expensive homes in England to pay more.
48% : " There is also concern among politicians that the review, which gives councils the budgets they can spend, is expected to also lift the limit on council tax rises.

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