Robison offered ‘compromise’ to end battle over council tax freeze
leader of Inverclyde Council has offered a “compromise” on council tax to the Scottish Government after representatives voted for an increase as the government pushed for a freeze.
Councillors backed an 8.2 per cent rise this year and 6 per cent next year in a meeting on Thursday.
But less than 24 hours later, council leader Stephen Mccabe said he had “reflected on the discussions” at the meeting and has written to Deputy First Minister Shona Robison.
Ms Robison, who is also in charge of Scotland’s finances, said previously a share of the £62.7 million in extra funding for councils announced last week would not be available to authorities who raised tax.
In his letter, Mr Mccabe said he would use the funding to offer a council tax rebate to Inverclyde residents which would amount to a freeze.
“I have reflected on the discussions at the full council yesterday and the desire expressed by many of my felthe low councillors that Inverclyde residents should benefit from the funding on offer from the Scottish Government for a council tax freeze,” he said.
“I have therefore written today to the Deputy First Minister proposing a way in which this can be achieved.
“If the government is willing to make this funding available on a recurring basis, I would be prepared to recommend to the council that we use the funding for 2024-25 to provide Inverclyde households with a one-off rebate on their council tax charge, which would mean that Inverclyde residents would receive a freeze in their council tax in line with the First Minister’s national policy priority.”
The compromise, he said, was a “win-win” situation for everyone concerned and was “eminently reasonable”.
“The Scottish Government gets its national council tax freeze, Inverclyde households benefit from a local council tax freeze, and the council receives the benefit of a stronger council tax base,” he added.
In recent months, Humza Yousaf’s administration and local councils have been at loggerheads after the First Minister announced that a council tax freeze would be imposed without consultation.
The ongoing wound was reopened last week when Argyll and Bute Council refused to freeze the levy, announcing it would increase by 10 per cent this year
On Thursday, Scottish council umbrella body Cosla joined local government associations in England, Wales and Northern
Ireland, sending a letter to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt urging him to provide “sufficient investment to local government”.
Rishi Sunak said last night: “The UK government is already providing the Scottish Government with a record block grant – £41 billion.” He added that Scottish ministers were “accountableforhow they’re choosing to spend that money when it comes to councils”. “The question is,why are the SNP governmentchoosingtomake the decisions they are,” he said.
“That’s what happens when you’re focused on the wrong priorities – if you’re obsessively focused with independence and not on public services, people are going to see the result.”