such a referendum, but many have raised Council Tax as close to the cap as they can get without passing it (for example, by 2.99%). This limit, combined with falling grants from central government due to austerity policy, has led councils to have a real-terms cut in spending power of more than 10% in 2021-22 compared to 2009-10, which has inevitably led to service reductions and cuts.

Although local government policy is a devolved matter, the Barnett Formula leads