Rachel Reeves is expected to use the meeting to announce more detail on how the Government will cut the cost of regulation by a quarter and set out plans to slim down or abolish regulators themselves.
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Chancellor summons regulators to Downing Street in war on red tape Sort: Newest first Oldest first March 17, 2025 9:42 amFew households avoid third year of maximum council tax hikes as plans approved
Nearly nine in 10 (88 per cent) of 153 upper-tier authorities in England will impose a 4.99 per cent increase this year, the most allowed without triggering a local referendum.
For just over two-thirds (68 per cent) of top-tier authorities, it will be the third year in a row that bills have gone up by at least the maximum legal amount, according to analysis by the PA news agency.
Sunderland has chosen a 4.49 per cent increase, Kensington & Chelsea in London 4.00 per cent, Doncaster and Derby have both opted for 3.99 per cent, while North East Lincolnshire will increase bills by 3.98 per cent.
Lincolnshire will boost bills by 2.99 per cent while Wandsworth in London has approved the lowest increase in England of 2.00 per cent, representing a freeze on the main element of council tax for the third year in a row.
Addressing residents on its website, the council added: Wandsworth has one of the lowest levels of debt and some of the highest financial reserves in London, allowing us to freeze the main element of councils tax and invest in what matters most.”
The 4.99 per cent cap, which includes a 2 per cent adult social care precept, has been in place over the last three years. While 68 per cent of upper-tier councils have raised council tax by the maximum in each of the past three years, 84 per cent have done so in both 2025/26 and 2024/25, PA analysis shows.
All 20 councils in the South East have approved an increase of 4.99 per cent or more this year, including an 8.99 ri per centse by Windsor & Maidenhead.
Just three of the 33 London councils have opted to increase council tax by less than 4.99 per cent, Wandsworth, Kensington & Chelsea and Barnet (4.80 per cent), while Newham has received permission for a 8.99 per cent increase.
This includes three authorities, Newham, Bradford and Birmingham, who have been allowed to increase bills above 4.99 per cent this year due to severe financial difficulties.
With local government finances in crisis, the Government has provided exceptional financial assistance to 30 councils this year, including support for eight councils to balance the books in previous years.
March 17, 2025 9:29 amChancellor summons regulators to Downing Street in war on red tape
Regulators have been summoned to Downing Street today for a meeting with the Chancellor as the Government continues its war on red tape.
The meeting follows the announcement last week that NHS England – dubbed the world’s largest quango – would be scrapped as part of efforts to cut costs and boost economic growth.
As well as abolishing NHS England, the Government has already announced plans to fold the Payments Systems Regulator into the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and Ms Reeves is expected to commit scrapping more regulators over the course of the Parliament.
Eight regulators are expected to attend the meeting, including the FCA, the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Health and Safety Executive.
These include fast-tracking new medicines, reviewing the £100 limit on contactless payments, simplifying mortgage rules and holding two major drone-flying trials to pave the way for drone delivery services.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves during a meeting at Downing Street in London with regulators (Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)Although the UK avoided a recession in the second half of 2024, the economy continues to falter and figures released last week showed a 0.1 per cent fall in GDP in January.
Reviewing environmental guidance given to planning authorities on protecting bats.Simplifying the process for agreeing environmental permits, with just one agency in charge of the system and permits being scrapped for low-risk or temporary projects.Slimming down the legal duties of financial services regulators, Ofgem, Ofwat and the Office for Road and Rail.Reviewing the role of the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Some of the changes, particularly those relating to environmental regulation, are expected to speed up delivery of major infrastructure projects such as the long-delayed Lower Thames Tunnel and the prospective third runway at Heathrow.
“Today’s announcement signals a shift towards a more proportionate, outcomes-based approach that should deliver more sustainable growth and investment.”
He added: “For as long as businesses remain under the strain of Labour’s taxes and trade union red tape, they will be unable to focus on the priority of growth.”
She said: “In the long run, this will only do more damage to our economy, not to mention our health – to call it an own goal would be a huge understatement.”
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