Six English councils granted permission to raise council tax bills

Angela Rayner says government under no illusions' as cash-strapped authorities try to avoid bankruptcy

Six English councils have been given permission by ministers to draw up cap-busting council tax bill increases of up to 10% from April - twice the rate of the vast majority of authorities - in an attempt to avoid bankruptcy.

Record numbers of cash-strapped authorities requested approval for rises above the 4.99% council tax cap this year, amid increasing concerns over their future financial stability after more than a decade of central funding cuts.