A poor tax - Council tax in London: Time for reform
Article
But leaving council tax unreformed is becoming ever more unsustainable. Local authorities across the country are increasingly cash strapped as a consequence of government cuts to their core grant funding and limits on their ability to raise funds through council tax and other sources. Moreover, the direction of public policy is towards greater devolution and allowing local politicians, accountable to their local electorates, to have a greater say – not just about what services should be prioritised, but how the funds for them should be raised.
Perhaps most significantly, however, is just how unfair the current system has become. Our research, focused on London, but with wider relevance for the whole system across England, demonstrates how council tax has become increasingly regressive with regard to property values – the cheaper your property, the more you are likely to pay as a proportion of your property value.
Related items

Breaking the cycle: A blueprint for special educational needs and disability (SEND) reform
The education system is not working well enough for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), their families, or the professionals delivering support.
Making space: Meeting the needs of young women and girls through Young Futures
This is a critical moment for the government’s delivery of Young Futures Hubs, which can transform outcomes for young women and girls.
Building the foundations for transformation in the NHS
The government has published a bold 10-year plan to transform England’s health system which, if fully delivered, will make the NHS of tomorrow look radically different from today’s service.