rattray wants to break ranks over highland agreement with the snp government
Second councillor wants to end council tax freeze accord
Published:
A second member of Highland Council’s ruling coalition wants it to break ranks and terminate its open-ended agreement with the SNP Government on a council tax freeze.
Cromarty Firth councillor Martin Rattray, a member of the Independent, Liberal Democrat and Labour administration, raised the issue in a written question to budget chiefs, prior to today’s full council meeting in Inverness.
He wants to know the full impact of the agreement locally and what its continuation would mean.
The pact, part of the government’s so-called “concordat” with councils, has so far been adhered to by all 32 local authorities. Highland participation has been rewarded with an annual £3.2million “bonus” payment. But, amid a continuing financial crisis affecting all council departments, Mr Rattray said it amounted to “centralising all tax-raising powers to Edinburgh” by a government which was “now attempting to decentralise the blame for cuts”.
The council is currently seeking “up to £80million” of budget cuts over three years. Its current annual budget is £526million.
Mr Rattray said: “We previously had the flexibility to increase council tax. But, as a result of the Scottish Government’s imposed freeze, we are being forced to make drastic cuts.”
Fort William and Ardnamurchan Independent councillor Donald Cameron recently called for an opt-out.
Council chiefs have told Mr Rattray that the £3.2million grant increase equated to a rise in council tax of “about 3% a year”.
But, speaking yesterday, the council’s budget leader, David Alston, agreed with his party colleague. “It’s taken away the link between us and our electorate, and that link has been there since local government was created,” he said.
“The tax was set at local level and people were held accountable at local level. That freedom has been taken away.”
The opposition SNP group leader John Finnie welcomed the fact that the issue had been raised once again.
He said: “It highlights the tremendous boost to Highland’s economy and the benefit of a council tax freeze, yet again.
“It’s important the council examines all aspects of its finances. But we’re all getting a bit weary of this mindless posturing by the Lib Dems and it’s ‘put up or shut up’ time.
“They maybe want to decide whether to put up council tax in excess of 20% or be grateful for the additional assistance provided by the Scottish Government and just get on with it.”
