Eric Pickles, the communities secretary, is facing
opposition from the home secretary, Theresa May, and the Liberal Democrats over
plans to force all councils and police authorities to hold a council-wide
referendum if they propose a council tax rise of more than 1%. At present,
councils are free to raise council tax by up to 2% without being required to
stage a referendum. The new threshold would leave councils facing real-terms
cuts in their budgets due to inflation. Pickles is planning to announce the
lower threshold for 2015-16 on Wednesday, the same day as the local government
finance settlement. Read more on the Guardian website.
Country diary: The challenge of making a thatched roof pine-marten proof |
Tom Allan
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*Glenisla, Angus:* Damage by squirrels is common; the mustelid less so.
Still, as a local told me, ‘you cannae blame them wanting somewhere to live’
That...
1 day ago

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