Ministers have been urged to ban local authorities from raising council tax this year if they have scrapped the elections planned for May.
Labour has allowed 29 councils to cancel local elections – in five cases, they are being delayed for a second year running.
But despite the lack of democratic accountability, research has revealed that most are planning to hike council tax for residents, with several planning inflation-busting increases of 5 per cent – the maximum allowed by law without holding a referendum.
The study by the Taxpayers’ Alliance found that the councils involved will raise taxes for households this year by a combined total of more than £120million.
The group’s campaigns director Elliot Keck said the increases breached the democratic principle that there should be no taxation without representation.
He added: ‘Any council cancelling their elections and still considering raising council tax should hang their heads in shame.
‘If council leaders themselves won’t do the honest thing and freeze tax for the next financial year, the government should step in and cap council tax and other charges at current levels.’
In December, Local Government Secretary Steve Reed invited 63 councils currently undergoing reorganisation to consider cancelling elections this May. Almost half took up the offer, depriving around four million people of a vote.
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (pictured) is among the 29 councils that will see their elections postponed
Of the 29 that asked to postpone elections, 21 are led by Labour, fuelling accusations the government is trying to reduce likely losses.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who has launched legal action in a bid to prevent the delays, has accused ministers of behaving like a ‘banana republic’.
The research reveals two of the local authorities delaying elections this year – Harlow and Lincoln – have agreed to freeze council tax bills.
Seven of the local authorities involved have announced plans to raise council tax by the 5 per cent maximum.
Ministers have insisted the delays are justified because the councils involved face being merged or abolished as part of a major shake up.
But the Electoral Commission dismissed that claim and warned the move risked ‘damaging public confidence’.