Council Tax Frozen Across Scotland As Services Shrink

16th April 2024

A council tax freeze will be delivered in all of Scotland's local authorities after Argyll & Bute became the final council to accept Scottish Government funding to keep rates at last year’s levels.

As a result, council taxpayers in all but one of Scotland’s council areas will not pay any more for their bills than they did in 2023-24. Households in Inverclyde will receive a planned one-off rebate in May to reverse the impact of their 8.2% increase in council tax.

Deputy First Minister Shona Robison said, "We know many households continue to struggle with the impact of rising prices, and this council tax freeze - funded by the Scottish Government – is just one of many ways that we’re offering support. Council tax is already lower in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK, and over two million households will now benefit from this freeze.

"We deeply value the role local authorities play in Scotland’s communities, which is why – in the face of a profoundly challenging financial situation – we have made available record funding of more than £14 billion to councils in 2024-25, a real-terms increase of 2.5% compared with the previous year."

The Scottish Government allocated £147 million for local authorities who agreed a council tax freeze. The Deputy First Minister also confirmed to COSLA and Council Leaders a further £62.7 million to councils freezing council tax which comprises:

£45 million in consequentials resulting from the recent announcement on ring-fenced Adult Social Care funding in England
A £17.7 million increase to the local government General Revenue Grant.

A council tax freeze may be welcome but it hides the facts that everyone can see of potholes and struggling NHS services from GP appointment to collapsing dental services.

Previous council tax freezes also hide a fact that many do not understand that future years increases are less due to the freeze further eroding the funding available to councils.

The Islands Cost of Living fund will also be increased by £4 million.

The often said fact that the money is at record levels is meaningless when everyone can see it does not cover the costs to maintain services Bold statement about record levels which happen every year due to inflation hides the truth of the lack of money for the many services we rely on. Scottish Government spend on many of its pet projects depriving services for the money required to run them to the levels we used to expect.