Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 8 November 2024 to Question 11925 on Council Tax: Greater London, and with reference to the Urgent Question on Council Tax on 14 November 2024, Official Report, columns 907-914, what estimate her Department has made of the average Birmingham City Council Council Tax rate in 2025-26, expressed as (a) a Band D amount in pounds and (b) the percentage difference from 2024-25, in the context of her Department's local government core spending power estimate of £68,459m for that year and the consequential assumptions on council tax referendum principles for 2025-26.

Council tax levels are decided by each council following the local government finance settlement. As such the government cannot comment on individual council tax levels or band D rates. The Local Government Finance Policy Statement published on 28 November sets out proposed council tax referendum principles for 2025 to 2026 of up to 3% and an adult social care precept of 2% for all local authorities responsible for adult social care services. This is in line with the previous government’s policy for 2024-25, and together with central government grant and locally-retained business rates provides a real-terms increase in core spending power of around 3.2% next year. The full statement can be found at: Local government finance policy statement 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK.