Sir Michael Lyons's interim report into local government funding surprised everyone this week with an earlier-than-expected delivery.
As foreseen, his interim report concentrated on the services and functions that local authorities should be undertaking, rather than their funding. The closest Lyons got to addressing the proposed bed tax was to call for "greater flexibility in funding" for local authorities.
The report says: "In order to support the achievement of local priorities, there is a case for local authorities to have greater flexibility to raise revenue, and/or to use existing revenues more flexibly."
Lyons will now study issues of local government, including how local authorities are funded, in seven pilot areas. These are Barnet, Bristol, Essex, Hartlepool, Nottingham, Sheffield, Shropshire, Southampton and Trafford.
Lyons's final report will be submitted to the Government for consideration in December. However, it is during this next phase that Lyons will listen to feedback. That's why it's imperative that Caterer's Say No To Bed Tax campaign collects as many petitions as possible.
So far, 1,563 readers have supported our campaign and signed our petition (click here to sign petition).
We also want readers to write to their local MPs to register their opposition to a bed tax so go to the magazine and fill out the drafted letter and send it off.
To find out who your local MP is, log on to www.locata.co.uk/commons and type in your postcode.
Fill in your MP's name, the date and salutation, and address the letter to your MP at the House of Commons or their constituency office.
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