UK council tax caps to be eased amid local authority funding crisis

Local authorities will have the cap on the level of council tax rises eased as a growing number of them struggle to remain financially viable in the face of soaring inflation and rising demand for services.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will use the Autumn Statement on Thursday to give local authorities the right to raise council tax by a maximum of 4.99 per cent from 2.99 per cent before having to put the increase to a local referendum,…