West Lothian council approves an 8.95% tax hike, impacting Band D properties. Other councils also raise rates despite appeals.
With the rise, Band D properties change. Costs go from £1,390.96 to £1,515.45 per year. Midlothian Council hiked their rates by 10 percent. They made that decision earlier on Tuesday too.
Midlothian’s Labour leaders ignored John Swinney. He asked them to limit council tax increases. He felt big rises weren’t needed. Swinney thinks the budget helps councils. He thinks a 10 percent rise is too high.
He honestly doesn’t think it’s necessary. Many areas plan council tax changes this week. Eighteen local authorities are voting on budgets. Six councils voted last week.
Borders and North Lanarkshire had 10 percent rises on Thursday. Fife introduced an eight percent hike earlier. Edinburgh’s increase was 8.2 percent. Glasgow’s was 7.5 per cent last week. East Lothian brought in 10 percent on Tuesday.
Humza Yousaf quickly announced a freeze last year. It was at the SNP conference in 2023. Swinney then confirmed it was lifted. This happened at the recent budget meeting.
Swinney discussed council funding recently. He thinks councils secretly like the funding deal. Leaders might tell him they got a better deal. This is what they say in private.
They might think these chats are risky. But, they’ve still spoken with him. He believes council tax can stay lower now.