DCLG and Treasury rule out council tax revaluation for five years

There will be no council tax revaluation in England during the lifetime of this Parliament, the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Treasury have announced.

The government has at the same time unveiled plans for a “broader local government resource review” that will look at the way local authorities are funded.

This will “provide greater financial freedoms and decrease dependency on Whitehall funding, which has previously pushed up council tax in many local authorities due to so-called ‘gearing’ effects,” the DCLG and the Treasury said.

The review of local government finance is expected to report in the summer of 2012.

The announcement also included plans for an independent data protection audit of the Valuation Office Agency's council tax database. This will be to “make sure people's privacy is protected when the Agency assesses properties and stores data”.

Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said: "We are today confirming that there will be no council tax revaluation which could have pushed up taxes on people's homes.

“The new government will protect the privacy of law-abiding citizens and halt state inspectors from unnecessary intrusion. We are standing up for people who have pride in their home, and calling time on the surveillance state.

"Hefty council tax bills are a constant financial worry for many people. Today we are setting their minds at ease, and protecting the interests of the less well-off in particular."