250,000 families braced for 4.8% council tax hike

MORE than 250,000 households are about to be hit by council tax rises of almost 5 per cent – while funding for services is being slashed.

From April 1, five local authorities could bring in the biggest rises for more than a decade.

The SNP had vowed to cap council tax rises at 3 per cent but broke that pledge by allowing local authorities to raise tax by up to 4.79 per cent.

Last week, councillors in East Lothian and Midlothian voted to impose the maximum.

Argyll and Bute, West Lothian, and East Dunbartonshire are also planning 4.79 per cent rises. But even those inflation-busting hikes will not protect communities from cuts.

Gary Fairley, head of finance in Midlothian, wrote in the council’s financial strategy: ‘The revised grant settlement still represents a cut in core funding (at a national level of approximately 1.5 per cent) and after applying the full 4.79 per cent council tax increase, it still requires the council to make budget savings totalling at least £7.4million.’

Services in the firing line include youth work, school transport, learning assistants, community policing, school cleaning, and free swimming during the school holidays.

East Lothian is looking at cuts in nursery and pre-school services, graduate support, business grants, tourism, and community learning.

Argyll and Bute Council will meet this week and head of strategic finance Kirsty Flanagan warned councillors: ‘In light of the estimated reduction in Scottish Government funding, together with cost increases in pay, inflation and other pressures, I have assumed that the council would wish to increase the council tax by 4.79 per cent.’

The council will consider cutting music tuition, abolishing lollipop men and women, and axing the road safety unit, which teaches pupils how to cross the road safely.

Some councils, however, have vowed to restrict tax rises. David Ross, Labour co-leader of Fife Council, said: ‘We will discuss the possibility of a rise but I think it unlikely given the pressures local households are already facing.’

Highland, Aberdeenshire and West Dunbartonshire have also stuck to 3 per cent, with Edinburgh expected to follow.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘Councils pleading poverty should be doing more to cut spending instead of asking taxpayers to cough up more.’

The Scottish Government denied the Budget had been a bad deal for councils. A spokesman said: ‘Council tax remains lower than in England – the average Band D bill in Scotland in 2018-19 is £1,208, compared to £1,671 in England.’

‘Households already facing pressure’