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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the (a) minimum and (b) maximum number of years will be for which council tax spending will be assessed for the purpose of regulations setting a threshold to trigger a local referendum under the Local Government Finance Bill.

The provisions of the LGF Bill do not specify a minimum or maximum number of years for which council tax referendum principles may be set. However, all referendum principles would be subject to consultation with representatives of local government. Local authorities will still be required to set their council tax every year and make an annual determination of whether it is excessive and therefore requires approval in a referendum.