Average council tax bills will soar past £2,000 for the first time in April after Jeremy Hunt gave the green light to bumper rises.
The Chancellor announced he will relax the cap on town, county and city halls raising bills for hard-pressed families across England.
Instead of only being able to raise them by 3% without a referendum, they will be able to raise them by 5%, the Autumn Statement said - 3% in core council tax plus 2% in social care precept.
