§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government have to introduce forms of local taxation in addition to the council tax; and if he will make a statement. [65863]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Government's White Paper "Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services" detailed our scheme for Business Improvement Districts (BIDS). Under a BID, projects of benefit to the local community will be funded by a levy on the business rate paid by local businesses. Before a BID can be established a majority of the ratepayers liable for the levy will need
236Wto have voted in favour. The draft Local Government Bill published on 12 June contains the necessary primary legislation
Apart from the BIDs levy, the Government have no plans to introduce other forms of local taxation in addition to the council tax.
We said in the White Paper that once some further analysis had been done, we would establish a high-level working group, involving Ministers and senior figures from local government, to look at all the aspects of the balance of local government funding, reviewing the evidence and looking at reform options. We intend to make an announcement regarding this review in due course.