Local government

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Services

1. Check your Council Tax band

   Find out the Council Tax band for a property in England, Scotland or Wales by looking up the property's postcode online

2. Pay your Council Tax

   Pay Council Tax online or by other methods, like direct debit to your local council

3. Find and check your business rates valuation

   How to check the rateable value of your business property - compare it with other properties, request changes to your valuation and challenge the business rates you've been charged

4. Council Tax

   Your Council Tax bill - how to work it out, who has to pay, discounts and exemptions for students and disabled people, second homes, empty properties, paying the bill

5. Apply for Council Tax Reduction

   Apply to your local council for Council Tax Reduction if you're on a low income or benefits - this has replaced Council Tax Benefit

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Guidance and regulation

1. Start paying Council Tax
   • Detailed guide
   • 22 January 2016
   • Valuation Office Agency
2. How domestic properties are assessed for Council Tax bands
   • Detailed guide
   • 26 January 2017
   • Valuation Office Agency
3. How to check and challenge your rateable value
   • Detailed guide
   • 3 December 2018
   • Valuation Office Agency
4. The Blue Badge scheme: rights and responsibilities in England
   • Guidance
   • 21 August 2017
   • Department for Transport
5. Traffic signs manual
   • Guidance
   • 18 March 2019
   • Department for Transport

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News and communications

17 September 2019 — Press release

Call for views for independent review into local authority audit

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

1. Spending Round gives big boost to local communities
   • 10 September 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • News story
2. Cornwall Council Local Authority of the Year
   • 21 August 2019
   • Office for Product Safety and Standards
   • News story
3. Highly Commended Business Advice and Support Partnership
   • 21 August 2019
   • Office for Product Safety and Standards
   • News story
4. £9 million announced to get ports and local areas ready for Brexit
   • 20 August 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Press release

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Research and statistics

1. Live tables on local government finance
   • 12 September 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Statistical data set
2. Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2018 to 2019 individual local authority data - outturn
   • 22 August 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • National statistics
3. Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2018 to 2019 provisional outturn
   • 22 August 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • National statistics
4. Northern Ireland Local Government District Tourism Statistics 2018
   • 25 July 2019
   • Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
   • National statistics
5. Prison release protocol guidance: research report
   • 5 July 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and Ministry of Justice
   • Research

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Policy papers and consultations

1. Review of local authority financial reporting and external audit: call for views
   • 17 September 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Open consultation
   • Closing date 22 November 2019
2. Proposed merger of West Midlands pension funds
   • 23 July 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Closed consultation
   • Date closed 07 September 2019
3. Allowing joint committees and combined authorities to hold meetings by video conference
   • 16 July 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Consultation outcome
   • Date closed 11 January 2017
4. Business rate retention and non-domestic rates 2018 to 2019
   • 11 July 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Policy paper
5. Brexit and local government: response to the HCLG Select Committee report
   • 3 June 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Policy paper

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Transparency and freedom of information releases

1. Data share pilot between HMRC and local authorities (T to Z)
   • 12 September 2019
   • HM Revenue & Customs
   • Foi release
2. Data share pilot between HMRC and local authorities (M to S)
   • 12 September 2019
   • HM Revenue & Customs
   • Foi release
3. Data share pilot between HMRC and local authorities (D to L)
   • 12 September 2019
   • HM Revenue & Customs
   • Foi release
4. Data share pilot between HMRC and local authorities (A to C)
   • 12 September 2019
   • HM Revenue & Customs
   • Foi release
5. Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman annual report and accounts 2018 to 2019
   • 17 July 2019
   • Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
   • Corporate report

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Organisations

1. Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
2. Department for Transport
3. Valuation Office Agency
4. HM Treasury
5. Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Show more organisations

1. Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain
2. Ministry of Defence
3. Cabinet Office
4. Department for Education
5. Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
6. Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs
7. Home Office
8. HM Courts & Tribunals Service
9. Department of Health & Social Care
10. Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland
11. HM Revenue & Customs
12. Ministry of Justice
13. Department for Work & Pensions
14. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street
15. Government Actuary's Department
16. Office for Product Safety & Standards
17. Office for Low Emission Vehicles
18. Office of the Secretary of State for Wales Swyddfa Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru
19. Public Health England
20. Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
21. Northern Ireland Office
22. Committee on Standards in Public Life
23. Disclosure & Barring Service
24. Government Digital Service
25. Maritime & Coastguard Agency
26. Bona Vacantia
27. Government Legal Department
28. Office of the Public Guardian
29. Armed Forces' Pay Review Body
30. Crown Commercial Service
31. Government Equalities Office
32. Lammy Review
33. Marine Management Organisation
34. Office for Civil Society
35. The Oil and Pipelines Agency
36. Planning Inspectorate
37. Office of the Leader of the House of Commons

1. Defence Infrastructure Organisation
2. Innovate UK
3. High Speed Two (HS2) Limited
4. Biometrics Commissioner
5. National Probation Service
6. Social Security Advisory Committee
7. British Hallmarking Council
8. Competition and Markets Authority
9. Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee
10. Environment Agency
11. Highways England
12. HM Land Registry
13. Ofsted
14. Single Source Regulations Office

Explore sub-topics

1. Business rates
2. Council Tax
3. Councils and elections
4. Data collection and reporting
5. Local Housing Allowance
6. Local government finance and capital assets
7. Local government pensions