Argyll and Bute Council agree to scrap tax rise

COUNCIL tax has been frozen in Argyll and Bute but a recommendation to approve a hefty increase next year, in principle at least, has been rejected.

A special meeting of the full council - the first since a change of administration to a coalition of SNP, Labour, Green and some independent councillors - agreed to scrap a 10 per cent rise in bills which had been voted through in February.

An amendment put forward by the previous administration consisting of Conservative, Liberal Democrat and some other independent councillors, and known as TALIG (the Argyll, Lomond and Islands Group) would also have frozen council tax and gone against the recommendation of the possible rise in 2025/26.

The TALIG amendment also asked that the council’s new leader, Oban South and the Isles SNP Councillor Jim Lynch, write to First Minister Humza Yousaf, asking that the Scottish Government engaged with local authorities to ensure no further council tax freezes.

However, the administration’s motion won a roll call vote 20-16.

Two independent councillors, Kieron Green (Oban North and Lorn) and Andrew Kain (Oban South and the Isles), who were previously policy leads under the former administration, backed the motion put forward by the new ruling coalition.

Executive director Kirsty Flanagan had recommended prior to Monday’s meeting that councillors should approve a 7 per cent increase in principle for 2025-26 to plug the gap left by the decision to freeze tax rates this year.

The meeting, held remotely on Monday, April 15, heard the administration’s motion that the council should “note the advice from the chief financial officer in regard to the level of council tax for 2025/26”.

But it added that the council should “agree that advice, updated as appropriate in the course of this financial year, will be part of members’ considerations in setting the revenue budget and council tax for 2025/26.”

Councillor Audrey Forrest (SNP, Dunoon), seconding the motion after it was proposed by Councillor Lynch, said: “There is no change really to what is there, except that we want to look at council tax as part of an ongoing process that we do every year, rather than mentioning numbers at this stage.

“We feel that is a bit premature. “We totally note the advice from Kirsty Flanagan, and it will be part of what we are looking at going forward.

“Councillor Robin Currie (Kintyre and the Islands, Liberal Democrat, former leader) and his team and officers have done a very good job. Nobody is denying that and I am happy to put that on record.

“Negotiation with government is never easy so I commend what they have done on that.”

Councillor Gary Mulvaney (Conservative, Helensburgh Central), presenting the amendment, said: “It is a bit of a win-win for council tax payers, but for the council it is extra money to support services and jobs, which was always the purpose of setting the budget at the time.

“It is a good opportunity for the leader to write to the First Minister thanking him for the money, and to reiterate the importance of the Verity House agreement. There should be mutual respect between local and national governments.

“We really need to get full funding for local government services. Other leaders have spoken about an emerging cliff edge, and without further resources we will face that cliff edge.”

Councillor Yvonne McNeilly (Conservative, Cowal) seconded the amendment, but South Kintyre Independent Councillor Tommy MacPherson remarked: “What I believe we have heard from TALIG is marking their own homework.

“It is nothing more than gesture politics. Words do not heat or feed the homes of Argyll and Bute.”

A roll call vote then saw the new administration’s proposal triumph.