Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure transparency and accountability in cases where parish or town councils implement significant increases in the council tax precept; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of such increases on residents.

It is for town and parish councils to set their precept and explain their decisions to residents. These precepts have not been subject to referendum principles, but this comes with a clear expectation that councils will take all available steps to mitigate the need for increases. Decisions taken by town and parish councils in 2026-27 will be taken into account by the government when considering referendum principles in future years.

Where a town or parish council has a precept worth £140,000 or more, the information supplied with the council tax bill must set out its expenditure council tax requirement, and the council’s opinion on the impact of expenditure on the precept level.