Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Government attacks parish and town councils' precepts.

The government has published a consultation document outlining its plans to abolish the Labour Government's 'capping' regime for local councils.

'Capping' means that if a council increases its council tax by an amount considered excessive by a government minister, then that council could be made to set a new budget at a level the minister found acceptable.

The new coalition government has published proposals to replace capping by a system of local referendums. If a minister thought a council tax increase excessive, he or she would order the council to hold a referendum. If the voters supported the increase then it could be implemented, but if not then they would have to go back to a budget set at a level the minister found acceptable.

However, one thing Labour never did was threaten the ability of town and parish councils to set their own precepts - capping was never extended to them.

But the new government has identified town and parish councils as having a tendency to increase their council tax and has included them within the scheme. The proposals, under the guise of 'localism', actually represent a more controlling policy than that of the old government.

To respond to the consultation click here.

Out of interest, Hilperton Parish Council has not increased its precept since 1999.