Local Government Finance Bill 2010-12

The Local Government Finance Bill 2010-12 was introduced on 19 December 2011 and will have its Second Reading on 10 January 2012. The Government has tabled a programme motion to allow the Bill to be taken in Committee of the Whole House over three days.

The Bill would introduce local retention of non-domestic rates, subject to various checks and balances, and would allow for the introduction of Tax Increment Financing by introducing possible new income streams against which councils would be able to borrow. The same provisions could also be applied to Enterprise Zones.

The Bill would provide a framework for the establishment of local systems of support for council tax payers, to replace Council Tax Benefit, from April 2013. There are also measures to amend council tax legislation, including removing exemptions for certain types of empty property.

The Local Government Finance Bill has been carried over into the 2012-13 session as Bill 4 of 2012/13. The Bill had completed its Committee Stage before the end of the 2010-12 Session and will have its remaining stages on 21 May 2012. Research Paper 12/14 considers the proceedings on the Bill before it was carried over.