Council tax bands need overhauling, northern business group says

In a call to address the council funding crisis, the Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP), representing northern businesses, is advocating for a revamp of council tax bands in England.

The NPP is urging Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to commit to a national revaluation in the upcoming March Budget. It argues that the decades-old property valuations forming the basis of the current bands need to be redone to ensure fairness.

However, the government has said that it currently has no plans for a nationwide band revaluation.

Henri Murison, CEO of NPP, stated in an interview with the BBC that the existing council tax system is “essentially broken.” In a letter addressed to Chancellor Hunt, Murison called for the Treasury to conduct a revaluation of all homes in England before the anticipated general election later this year.

The proposed overhaul by NPP includes the introduction of higher bands for expensive foreign-owned properties, aiming to create a more equitable balance between wealthier and less affluent councils.