Parish council levies hide true council tax rises

Above-inflation increases in council tax are a major issue in this week's local elections. Labour has introduced new safeguards to block increases of more than five per cent.
However, councils have been accused of using loopholes to get around the rules - such as passing responsibilities on to parish councils.
Southern councils have also complained about a readjustment of central government grants with more money being awarded to poorer areas, particularly in the North.
This has allowed many Labour councils to keep council tax rises down.

More skulduggery, again, still...once more.