Council Tax

Baroness Pinnock Excerpts

Monday 3rd February 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

My Lords, fees and charges form an important part of councils’ income. Whether that is fair or not is for the council tax payers of the area in question to make their minds up about locally. The three strands of council tax funding very much include those fees and charges, and the voters will decide whether they are reasonable or not.

[Baroness Pinnock (LD)]

My Lords, further to the question from my noble friend Lord Shipley, some council tax payers are now paying 12% on top of the council tax bill to pay for social care—the social care precept. Is that a fair and reasonable way to raise money to pay for social care? I remind the Minister that it was introduced by the previous Government.

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

The social care precept was introduced by the previous Government. There is an increase in demand for social care in our demographic, and that has to be funded. The Government continue to keep under review how adult social care is paid for. At the moment, it is paid for by an additional precept on council tax for those who need social care. It is very important that we continue to support people in our communities who need it, and I am sure the noble Baroness would want us to continue to do that.