A SURVEY published this week by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy predicts that the average Council Tax bill in England will rise by a record 13 per cent this year.

This will be the highest figure since the new system replaced the poll tax 11 years ago and the average annual increase in that time has only twice been below six per cent.

On Tuesday Malvern Hills District Council agreed to increase its precept by four per cent. To put this in context, since 1998 the council has increased its precept from £63.31 on an average band D property to £104.79, an increase of 65 per cent in six years.

The biggest chunk of money over that time has gone to the County Council. If it sets a precept of £822 for this year, that will be an increase of £311.25, or 61 per cent since 1998. The worst offenders are West Mercia Police, whose tax take over six years is set to rise by 123 per cent from £53.64 to £119.80.

By contrast, Malvern Hills Conservators has only increased its precept by 14 per cent over six years, while the organisation has introduced a more modern management structure which has helped it access new sources of grant funding.

As more than one of our correspondents have said, this can't go on.

Local government blames central government which in turn blames councillors, meanwhile we are the losers.