Council Tax explained - Adult social care funding

Published: 13 March 2024

In relation to the year beginning 2020 and any subsequent year, the Secretary of State made an offer to adult social care authorities. (‘Adult social care authorities’ are local authorities which have functions under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014, namely county councils in England, district councils for an area in England for which there is no county council, London borough councils, the Common Council of the City of London and the Council of the Isles of Scilly.)

The offer was the option of an adult social care authority being able to charge an additional 'precept' on its Council Tax without holding a referendum, to assist the authority in meeting its expenditure on adult social care from the financial year 2016 to 2017.

It was originally made in respect of the financial years up to and including 2019 to 2020. If the Secretary of State chooses to renew this offer in respect of a particular financial year, this is subject to the approval of the House of Commons.

The government has extended this into 2024 to 2025. Your bill therefore also includes an additional 2% adult social care precept.