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Available for over a year

Lead government commissioner at the city council, Max Caller described that level of tax increase as "par for the course" at authorities which had effectively declared bankruptcy. On Tuesday, council leader John Cotton said he would write to the government asking for permission to raise next year's charge by more than 4.99% without a local referendum. The Labour-run authority issued a section 114 notice in September as it faces the challenge of a £760m equal pay bill and an £80m overspend on an IT project.