Having a good council may make a big impact in your neighbourhood; it can transform your surroundings every day and give you peace of mind that you’re living in a safe and well-kept neighbourhood. Local councils are involved in improving the wellbeing of the community, representing their needs and action, delivering services and striving to improve the quality of life for their residents.
Councils give communities the chance to be open with higher-powered people that can make a change.
What Makes a Good Council?
When travelling to other areas, it can be easy to tell the difference in level of area by looking at the architectural buildings that surround you or even the paint work in the local train station. With this comes a change in council tax that should provide councils greater flexibility in maintaining a particular level of service, but there are a number of challenges that residents across the country are facing.
Glasgow City Council – The average (mean) Council Tax value in Glasgow City is £1,096.48.
Rating – 3.9/5
211 Reviews
Positive – “Charming city.”
Negative – “Useless, unhelpful, and unprofessional. Hope not to deal with them in the future.”
Birmingham City Council – The average (mean) Council Tax value in Birmingham is £1,449.37.
Rating – 3.4/5
48 Reviews
Positive – “Great improvement.”
Negative – “The employees are rude and as a whole the council does nothing to help the people of the city.”
Westminster City Council – The average (mean) Council Tax value in Westminster is £1,094.34.
Rating – 3.2/5
54 Reviews
Positive – “Great service, helpful people, polite staff, I don’t see why they get negative reviews from scroungers.”
Negative – “If only I could score a 0, the service overall is disgraceful and they claim to have a housing crisis yet no one with common sense.”
Newcastle City Council – The average (mean) Council Tax value in Newcastle upon Tyne is £1,595.08
Rating – 3.2/5
54 Reviews
Positive – “Great service, helpful people, polite staff, I don’t see why they get negative reviews from scroungers.”
Negative – “If only I could score a 0, the service overall is disgraceful and they claim to have a housing crisis yet no one with common sense.”
Coventry City Council – The average (mean) Council Tax value in Belfast is £1,620.01.
Rating – 2.8/5
60 Reviews
Positive – “Taking hygiene and safety very seriously. Can’t go to certain areas without a face mask unless exempt.”
Negative – “Worst council I’ve ever dealt with. Don’t take phone calls, don’t answer emails or messages.Shambolic and useless staff and liars!”
Belfast City Council – The average (mean) Council Tax value in Belfast is £1,750.
Rating – 2.8/5
32 Reviews
Positive – “I phoned general enquiries and was helped immensely by Nicola who gave me the details of what I needed.”
Negative – “No matter what option you pick when phoning, you can’t get through to anyone, EVER! I decided to select the complaints option to complain about this but was told I’d have to wait for this as well!”
Brighton City Council – The average (mean) Council Tax value in Brighton is £1,847.03.
Rating – 2.8/5
62 Reviews
Positive – “After speaking with imahni on the phone in the collections department I had to leave a review. He is a true asset to you, kind, helpful and courteous. Every time I’ve spoken to him he’s gone way over and above!”
Negative – “Absolutely disgusted with the Brighton council service. I have been trying to apply for a RENEWAL permit for over a month for them to keep saying I need to send the same evidence over and over again.”
Leeds City Council – The average (mean) Council Tax value in Leeds is £1,525.40.
Rating – 2.3/5
53 Reviews
Positive – “Usually ok when you get through to them – but the hold times are insane.”
Negative – “Absolute shambles of an organisation, typical bone idle public sector workers sitting on their overpaid arses doing sweet fa.”
Reading Borough City Council – The average (mean) Council Tax value in Reading is £1,943.92.
Rating – 1.8/5
246 Reviews
Positive – “04/10/2021 11:43. I would like to thank Rob, from the Council Tax Support department, for being patient, informative and helpful.”
Negative – “Was told to call housing advice @ 9am and sat on the phone for almost 2 hours just for a machine to cut in & tell me the office isn’t open to calls then hung up with no alternative way of contact.”
Essex City Council – The average (mean) Council Tax value in Essex is £1300.75.
Rating – 1.8/5
36 Reviews
Positive – “They are observing strict Covid-19 rules. Interesting building.”
Negative – “So so bad. How are you all getting away with it? I really can’t believe how incompetent you all are.”
Manchester City Council – The average (mean) Council Tax value in Manchester is £1,390.79
Rating – 1.6/5
22 Reviews
Positive – “Excellent experience when calling. I was amazed how courteous the advisor was on the phone.”
Negative – “Absolutely useless. Can’t contact them and they can’t get their information right.”
BCP Bournemouth Council – The average (mean) Council Tax value in Manchester is £1,354.25.
Rating – 1.6/5
118 Reviews
Positive – “Used the Citizens Advice service which is in the west wing. All volunteers doing a great job. Got great advice on how to move forward. Recommended.”
Negative – “Pitiful lack of service. Worse than you could possibly imagine. Moved into a new property in December. It is now February and I simply cannot get a council tax bill out of them.”
Liverpool City Council – The average (mean) Council Tax value in Liverpool is £1,628.85
Rating – 1.5/5
40 Reviews
Positive – “Just been on the line with them about cancelling my council tax due to changing the address. Really polite and helpful lady picked up the phone. It was really helpful.”
Negative – “Would give 0 starts if I could, 2 weeks since I sent an email no response, phone line is useless.”
Southampton City Council – The average (mean) Council Tax value in Southampton is £1,575.39.
Rating – 1.5/5
167 Reviews
Positive – “Helpful on phone hopefully sort out problems.”
Negative – “I have had to call up 5 times for them to collect refuse bags they agreed to collect but won’t collect.”
Sheffield City Council – The average (mean) Council Tax value in Sheffield is £1,562.26.
Rating – 1.5/5
113 Reviews
Positive – “Best building in Sheffield.”
Negative – “Waiting over 9 months for a pip renewal decision and being told to just wait is unacceptable.”