Council tax rise not on cards, but ‘nothing off the table’, says council

PLANS to raise the council tax are not being considered by Argyll and Bute Council, the deputy leader of Argyll and Bute Council has said. But Ellen Morton also told The Oban

Times that ‘nothing is off the table’ as the budget decision deadline draws closer.

Mrs Morton said that while difficult decisions lay ahead, an email sent out by former leader James Robb indicating the authority planned to raise the council tax were ‘ without foundation’.

In an email to The Oban Times, Councillor James Robb said: ‘Argyll and Bute Council were favourably protected by Finance Secretary, John Swinney in his budget.

‘ The savings required, in addition to the council’s existing plans, amount to only 0.8 per cent of its total spending.

‘ The actual reduction from target of around £ 2 million is more than offset by the additional funding on offer for the Council Tax freeze at £1.432 million and maintaining the number of teachers £ 895,000.

‘ It seems that Argyll and Bute Council is one of the councils preparing to reject the offers of additional funding from the Scottish Government as part of the LibDem election strategy.

‘ The cost of this will of course fall on those least able to deal with it – those just above the Council Tax Benefit threshold, children from poorer families in our education system, and the elderly.’

Councillor Robb believes that options under consideration by the LibDem/ Tory/ Independent Administration are:

Reject the SNP Government’s offer of an extra £1.432m (equivalent to a 3.5 per cent Council Tax rise to freeze Council Tax). An increase of 10 per cent would raise a net £ 2.6m.

Reject the SNP Government’s offer of an extra £ 0.895million to maintain teach- er numbers in 2016-17 and cut teachers to the legal minimum levels to save a net £ 0.605million minus redundancy costs.

Reduce the council’s contribution to the new Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership in light of its share of the £ 250million extra funding provided by the SNP Government to ensure its successful start- up and future sustainability.’

Mrs Morton said that Councillor Robb was not included in the administration’s conversations about the budget and therefore his comments were ‘completely free from any knowledge of current discussions’.

A spokeswoman for Argyll and Bute Council said: ‘ The council has been and continues to plan for a reduced funding package from the Scottish Government and in light of last week’s announcement we have begun the process of assessing the settlement for Argyll and Bute.

‘As part of this process we are conducting a major budget consultation with our communities.

’ Regarding the council tax, the council will notify the Scottish Government of its decision no later than January 22, in line with other local authorities.

’ Decisions in setting the budget will be made at the council meeting on February 11.’