Council Tax has doubled in 10 years

Council tax bills in England have almost doubled since the charge was introduced 10 years ago.

The average council tax on a band D home in England soared by 94% over the decade, according to research published by Halifax to mark the 10th anniversary of the charge.

The figures include this year's big increases which take the annual tax for a band D home in England through the £1,000 mark for the first time - to £1,102 in 2003-2004, compared with just £568 in 1993-1994.

The tax - which is based on the value of properties graded in bands from A to D, with A as the cheapest - was introduced by John Major's Conservative government in April 1993 to replace the poll tax.

Halifax said the 94% rise in England is almost three times the rise in inflation over the period - which was 29%.

But in Scotland the rise was lower at 81% - taking an average band D home from £556 to £1,009 over the same period.

While the biggest rise in percentage terms was in Wales - where council tax soared 155% over the decade - council tax bills are still much lower.

The average tax for band D households in Wales in 2003-2004 is £837, compared to just £328 a decade before.

England was also worst hit by this year's big rises, with average band D bills rising 12.9% compared to 9.9% in Wales and just 3.9% in Scotland, acccording to the Halifax calculations.

Wales dominates the list of areas with the lowest council tax charges, with 18 of the top 30 authorities, including Newport where the average band D bill is just £671. But the lowest council tax charges in Britain are in Westminster in the heart of London where band D bills are just £570. The highest bills in the country are found in Newark and Sherwood in the east Midlands where the average band D charge is £1,294.

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