The report and recommendations from the Rates Inquiry represent a significant victory for the NoMoreRates campaign.

The report confirms our contention that the rating system is not sustainable – a view the report upholds by saying that the rating system will not be sustainable in ten years time.

NoMoreRates called for alternative sources for local council funding and the Report agrees and sets out a range of other sources of income.

We called for more central government funding – and the report agrees, recommending that government provides more funding for water infrastructure and the cost of major urban roads.

NoMoreRates called for less reliance on rates for councils funding – and the report agrees saying that the proportion of revenue from rates must be reduced.

NoMoreRates called for Crown-owned lad to be subject to rates – and the report agrees, saying all Crown-owned land except Conservation land should be rated.

NoMoreRates called for restraint on council expenditure – and the report agrees.

NoMoreRates pointed out that consultation on council spending plans was basically a waste of time – and the report agrees, saying that a council's discretion to ignore submissions should be removed.

NoMoreRates proposed that Infrastructure Bonds should be used to fund major projects – and the report agrees.

NoMoreRates called for measures to take into account ‘ability to pay’ – and the report agrees, calling for investigation into the affordability of rates to low income households.

The challenge now is to ensure that councils take up the recommendations in the report and pressurise central government into making necessary legislation changes and providing the additional funding recommended by the Inquiry.

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