FIVE more Scottish councils yesterday showed that the era of the council tax freeze brought in by the SNP government in 2007 is well and truly over.
East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Highland and Scottish Borders Councils all approved council tax rises of three per cent, while Aberdeenshire agreed a rise of 2.5 per cent – on a 33 to 32 vote – adding to the three per cent rises approved on Tuesday by Midlothian and Conharile nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles).
In Edinburgh, the new council tax bands are A: 802.71, B: 936.50, C: 1,070.28, D: 1,204.07, E: 1,582.01, F: 1,956.61, G: 2,357.97 and H: 2,949.97.
The council has a budget of £968 million and says it will “continue to prioritise investment in key frontline services and outcomes while making savings of £38m”.
The council stated: “In addition to income linked to the Scotland-wide increases in council tax for higher-banded properties, extra resources will be made available to the council through a three per cent increase in council tax – the first such rise in nine years.”
There will also be investment in new projects approved yesterday, including the £12m refurbishment of North Bridge, £7.8m to address the costs from rising school rolls and an extra £2.5m to spend on roads and pavements, as well as sums already agreed for the rebuilding of Meadowbank Sports Centre.
The National can reveal that an extra £200,000 has been allocated for the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the Edinburgh Festival.
The council heard several deputations. Tom Connolly from Unison said 1400 jobs had already been lost at the council.
“Staff are reaching breaking point,” he added. “Services are becoming too lean and too fragile.”
Betty Stevenson of Edinburgh Tenants Federation responded to a two per cent rise in council house rents by saying that the capital already had the highest local authority rents in Scotland.
She added: “We don’t think a two per cent rent rise is affordable for the working poor of Edinburgh who will also have to fork out for a three per cent council tax increase.”
Councillor Alasdair Rankin, Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, said: “In 2016, we approved a four-year budget framework which drew on feedback and ideas from the public, and this year’s budget continues to reflect residents’ priorities.
“Despite an uncertain financial climate we have set a balanced budget for Edinburgh, as well as securing funds for several major projects throughout the city.”
Councillor Bill Cook, vice-convener of the finance and resources committee, said: “It’s no secret that it’s a challenging time for the council, but I’m pleased that we have been able to successfully set the budget while continuing to look out for citizens’ best interests.”
Scottish Borders Council announced a five-year revenue plan of £1.3 billion and a 10-year capital plan of £321m, including additional investment in tourism assets and energy efficiency schemes to provide longer-term savings.
There will also be investments such as £3.2m additional funding for the £38m Hawick Flood Protection Scheme, £500,000 extra funding to upgrade council-owned public halls and a similar sum in extra funding for a 3G sports pitch in Jedburgh.
Council leader David Parker said the budget would be “maintaining teacher numbers in our schools for the next year, continuing our ambitious plans to attract people and businesses to locate here, and a capital programme which will benefit the whole of the region.”
He added: “Thanks to sound financial plans, we are in a much better position than we might have been.”
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