Council tax set to be hiked by three per cent

East Ayrshire residents face a three per cent council tax hike .

Having removed its freeze on council tax, the Scottish Government has placed the onus on local authorities to decide on any increases.

However, it will no longer give councils additional cash to make up the shortfall, meaning rises will be almost inevitable.

Joseph McLachlan, the council’s Chief Financial Officer , said: “Our current budget planning assumption is that council tax will increase by three percent in 2022/23.

“We are continuing to hold discussions regarding the council’s budget and we will finalise any decisions about potential council tax uplifts in due course.”

The SNP/Green Government has announced an extra £120m for local authorities in a bid to put the brakes on crippling council tax rises. Last week, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes revealed the extra funds amid a revolt by council leaders and fears her original funding deal would add to the cost of living crisis. In an unprecedented move before Christmas, all 32 council leaders had written to the First Minister to complain about next year’s funding settlement.

They accused the Government of handing them a £371m cut and said they were “deeply concerned” about their treatment.

The u-turn also came after Nicola Sturgeon met senior figures at council umbrella group COSLA last Wednesday.