Angry, ashamed, embarrassed, humbled and reflective

I would like to apologise to all communities across Argyll and Bute for the 10 per cent increase in council tax that is going to be imposed upon you during the next financial year, starting in April 2024, a mere two months away.

As I write this, I am still raw from the full council meeting which took place on Thursday February 22, at which your administration group of councillors, referred to as the TALIG Group (The Argyll, Lomond and the Islands Group), proposed and voted to approve the imposition of a 10 per cent increase on your council tax bills.

I am an SNP councillor and am proud to be part of a group of “opposition” councillors from the SNP, the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Green Party and a number of Independent councillors. We all have varying backgrounds and political beliefs, but want to make Argyll and Bute the best place in Scotland to live, to work, to do business and to visit.

We presented a balanced, prudent, forward-looking, safeguarding and compassionate budget, utilising the money made available by the Scottish Government, which would have meant no increase in council tax across Argyll and Bute. It would have meant no redundancies. It would have meant no cuts to the agreed budget for Health and Social Care. It would have invested in our partners across Argyll and Bute who deliver crucial frontline services, often by volunteers.

No projects would have been cancelled. No scaremongering tactics were involved. Investment in our roads and infrastructure services would have been maintained at current levels. But, alas, we lost the vote by two votes from a total of 35 cast. We will now not receive our share of the Scottish Government money as a result of this decision.

Argyll and Bute Council employs some amazing staff who truly believe and are invested in the area. They live here and love it here, as do I. Some of these staff, our financial team and beyond, had previously spent many months compiling figures, assessing needs, examining budgets, listening and assessing savings opportunities, truly working their hardest to provide your elected councillors with financial options for the forthcoming financial year.

There were many options to consider, but none of them was to increase the council tax by 10 per cent. An option to raise council tax by 6.15 per cent was the highest suggested as a way of “balancing the budget”, and was considered, but your administration group of councillors decided to go for the whammy of 10 per cent.

I was truly gobsmacked when I saw this proposal in writing a mere 20 minutes before the full council meeting. How do you respond to that?

So there we have it, agree or disagree, our council tax will rise by 10 per cent in April.

As I write, every other council in Scotland that has set their budget has agreed to freeze council tax and have managed to “balance the budget”, which is our legal responsibility.

Families are struggling to feed their kids, with our people relying on food banks. People are switching off their heating with the result of increased dampness at home and ill health, including, of course, declining mental health. I see this every week when I am in people’s homes, speaking to folks on the street and in the shops. It is very real here, and very upsetting, yet your council will be taking more from you.

So yes, at the meeting on the 22nd, I was angry and still am.

I am ashamed and embarrassed about the decision made by some of your councillors, and that I could not prevent it. I have reflected on what went on and have spoken to many people since and am humbled by some of the sentiment that has been expressed.

I know some of my fellow councillors feel the same and are every bit as affected as I am.

I hope you can manage the impact of this ludicrous rise in tax, and remember there is always help in Argyll and Bute. Please reach out for the help that is there if you need it.