INVERCLYDE Council has agreed its spending plans and council tax rates for the next two years.
At a special meeting last night, the local authority agreed to raise council tax by 8.2% in 24/25 and 6% in 25/26, despite a Scottish Government council tax freeze.
The leader of the Labour council Stephen McCabe claimed to have ignored calls from higher-ups in his party not to increase council tax.
Deputy First Minister Shona Robison had assured the council that it would receive funding equivalent to cost of the rise to ensure that services could be properly funded during the freeze.
However, Inverclyde Council went ahead with the move.
How much is council tax going up by in Inverclyde?
The decision to increase council tax by 8.2% in 24/25 means the Band D level will increase £117.24 to £1547.01 – or an extra £2.25 a week.
A full table showing the impact of an 8.2 per cent increase can be found below.
READ MORE: Is council tax being frozen in my local area? See the full list
What has the reaction been?
First Minister Humza Yousaf was not impressed with the increase.
Yousaf said: “How will Anas Sarwar stand up to Starmer when he can’t even stand up to his colleagues boasting about ignoring him?
“Astonishing that Labour will raise council tax in the midst of a cost of living crisis, despite assurances of receiving funding equivalent to cost of the rise.”
Prior to the vote, Scottish Finance Secretary Robison said she “could not understand the rationale” of Labour councillors to “impose such a hefty increase in council tax on the people of Inverclyde as it leaves Inverclyde Council no better off financially in 2024/25.”
The increase has also been slammed by the Alba Party, who say that putting up council tax during the cost of living crisis will harm struggling families.
Council leader McCabe (below) said: “Decisions on council tax should be for democratically elected local councillors free from coercion by the Scottish Government.
“Cosla leaders, including SNP leaders, believe that this extra funding, if it does materialise, should not be withheld from any council that increases council tax and I would hope irrespective of the outcome of today’s debate that our SNP councillors will make those representations to the first minister and deputy first minister.
“The council tax freeze is also regressive, a quarter of households in Inverclyde do not benefit from the council tax freeze as they are the ones who are in receipt of council tax reduction, and they are the ones who suffer most when services and jobs are cut.”
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