Local government

Sign up for updates to this topic page

On this page

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

See more services in this topic

Guidance and regulation

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

See more guidance and regulation in this topic

News and communications

9 November 2019 — Press release

Government activates Bellwin scheme to support local communities hit by flooding

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

1. Transformative North Wales Growth Deal signed
   • 4 November 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and Office of the Secretary of State for Wales
   • Press release
2. Growing Mid Wales Partnership welcomes UK Government funding to ignite regional ambition
   • 8 October 2019
   • Office of the Secretary of State for Wales
   • News story
3. Appointment Extension: Local Government Superannuation Committee
   • 2 October 2019
   • Northern Ireland Office
   • News story
4. Brexit Local Government Delivery Board: September 2019 update
   • 30 September 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Press release

See more news and communications in this topic

Research and statistics

1. Council Taxbase 2019 in England
   • 13 November 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Official statistics
2. Local government pension scheme funds for England and Wales: 2018 to 2019
   • 16 October 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Official statistics
3. Local authority capital expenditure and receipts in England: 2018 to 2019 final outturn
   • 26 September 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • National statistics
4. Local authority capital expenditure and receipts in England: 2018 to 2019 individual local authority data
   • 26 September 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • National statistics
5. Live tables on local government finance
   • 12 September 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Statistical data set

See more research and statistics in this topic

Policy papers and consultations

1. Review of local authority financial reporting and external audit: call for views
   • 5 November 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Open consultation
   • Closing date 20 December 2019
2. Proposed merger of West Midlands pension funds
   • 18 October 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Consultation outcome
   • 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. Local government finance and the 2019 Spending Review: response to the select committee report
   • 25 October 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Policy paper
5. Business rate retention and non-domestic rates 2018 to 2019
   • 11 July 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Policy paper

See more policy papers and consultations in this topic

Transparency and freedom of information releases

1. Twenty-fifth meeting of the Libraries Taskforce
   • 11 October 2019
   • Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
   • Corporate report
2. Data share pilot between HMRC and local authorities (T to Z)
   • 12 September 2019
   • HM Revenue & Customs
   • Foi release
3. Data share pilot between HMRC and local authorities (M to S)
   • 12 September 2019
   • HM Revenue & Customs
   • Foi release
4. Data share pilot between HMRC and local authorities (D to L)
   • 12 September 2019
   • HM Revenue & Customs
   • Foi release
5. Data share pilot between HMRC and local authorities (A to C)
   • 12 September 2019
   • HM Revenue & Customs
   • Foi release

See more transparency and freedom of information releases in this topic

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. Cabinet Office
3. Ministry of Defence
4. Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
5. Department for Education
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 of the Secretary of State for Wales Swyddfa Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru
18. Office for Low Emission Vehicles
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. Environment Agency
10. Highways England
11. HM Land Registry
12. Ofsted
13. 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