Political Perspective On A Council That Refused The SNP Council Tax Freeze And Went For Increase Of 10 Percent

3rd March 2024

Highland councillors last Thursday moved to accept the council tax freeze announced by the SNP/Greens and get more money to compensate. Even with that several cuts are coming to services.

Two other councils have refused the offer and voted to put up council tax. The arguments being that the government is not offering sufficient funds to compensate.

An article in the Oban Times sets out some of the political arguments from the MP and councillor. Argyll and Bute's sitting MP has warned one of his General Election rivals that she "will have to explain and justify" her backing for a 10 per cent council tax rise to local voters.

Brendan O'Hara (SNP) was reacting after Conservative councillor Amanda Hampsey - his rival for the new Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber seat at the forthcoming UK general election – joined her colleagues on Argyll and Bute Council’s ruling coalition in voting for the hefty tax hike.

The decision by the council’s ruling Argyll, Lomond and Islands Group (TALIG) – made up of Conservative, Liberal Democrat and some independent councillors – was at odds with First Minister Humza Yousaf’s pledge in October that council tax would be frozen.

Councillor Hampsey, who represents the Oban South and the Isles ward, said: "I didn’t enter local politics with the intention to increase people’s bills, but the savage cuts the SNP-Green government have imposed on Argyll and Bute Council left us in an impossible position.

Read the Oban Times article HERE