Council tax thaw is welcomed in Burnside
Locals hope it will improve services
The Scottish Government last week outlined changes to council tax that will kick in next year.
It will see the end of the tax freeze that’s been place for the past nine years, with responsibility for raising the tax going towards local authorities.
That means that South Lanarkshire Council could increase the rate by up to three per cent.
The Reformer asked Burnside residents what they thought about the proposed changes.
Ron Matheson felt that a council tax increase is overdue. He said: “I think the increases are fair. It’s been frozen for too long, and I think it has to go up if services are to be improved, and the local authorities should have a bit of extra money to achieve that.”
Morag Hunter said: “I don’t think the councils should have autonomy over it, because I don’t see why we should subside their inefficiency. I think they should have some say in what they’re doing, or else what’s the point in them even being there? But they need to be reigned in.”
Joy Anderson, of Cambuslang said: “I think it’s the right move, because services have been held back for years and years and there’s nothing left to cut back on. I think eventually they’ve made the right decision.”
Francis Daly, of Castlemilk, was willing to accept the raise as long as local services benefitted: He said: “You’ve got to pay the money if you want services. I think it’s important to protect the services, so it would be OK if it went up a wee bit to help pay for that.”
It’s been frozen for too long and it has to go up if services are to be improved
Ron Matheson