Council tax rises set to be imposed against the will of local authorities

Council tax hikes will be imposed on ratepayers next year by the Scottish Government – even though some town hall chiefs may wish to retain the freeze, MSPS have been told.

Scots living in more expensive band E-H properties are to see their local tax rates rise next year under government proposals which aim to raise £100 million for education.

The move came under fire yesterday from council leaders who say this undermines “local democracy.”

There are even fears that frontline local authority staff could face an upsurge in abuse over the changes.

The council tax has been frozen for the past nine years but councils will be free to put it up next year under the changes set out by the SNP.

But ministers are imposing their own rise in more expensive properties as part of the drive to tackle the “attainment 0 Kevin Keenan said changes ought to be up to councils gap” between schools in richer and poorer areas of the country.

Kevin Keenan, of local government body Cosla, hit out at the move as gave evidence to Holyrood’s local government committee yesterday.

“We would like to see local government having the ability to decide whether it raises or freezes, or whatever, without imposing these things on them.

“It might well be that we’ve got members who can continue with the council tax freeze for a period. It might well be that others would’ve preferred to put it up by more than the band it’s been. It’s about local democracy and local accountability. What’s being presentedbylocalgovernmentdoesn’t allow what.”

Angry council chiefs also want to ensure that the accompanying letter explaining the council tax bill to Scots makes it clear that part of the hike in their bill is being imposed by the Scottish Government.

Dave Watson, of Unison Scotland, told MSPS that staff are concerned about the prospect of more abuse.

“People are going to be faced this year with some, in many cases, quite big changes and there’s a huge amount of concern among the staff,” he added. “What we are seeing more generally, as our annual survey of abuse and violence demonstrates, is a significant increase in recent years in both verbal and physical abuse towards local authority staff.”