Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2018 to Question 130267 on Council Tax: Dorset, when he plans to publish his decision on the latest date by which new unitary authorities in Dorset must equalise council tax over the whole of that unitary authority area; and if he will make his decision provisional and subject to consultation against criteria set out in his answer.

All Dorset councils are currently working together to develop council tax harmonisation proposals through their Joint Committees and may make representations to the Secretary of State as to any approach they might wish him to take.

Thereafter the Secretary of State intends to bring forward before the Summer Recess secondary legislation on council tax harmonisation, having regard to local preference, and to the other matters indicated in my answer to Question UIN 130267 on 5 March 2017.