DOZENS of Scottish local authorities have confirmed above-inflation increases in council tax next year, as council leaders said they are necessary to maintain essential public services
Orkney and Midlothian are the latest councils to confirm increases in 25/26. Bills will rise by 8.2% in Fife, 7.5% in Glasgow, and 10% in East Lothian.
Other councils are expected to impose similar increases, with a 10% rise being mooted in North Lanarkshire and an 8% increase in Edinburgh.
Only the Conservatives refused to back the budget, despite having been involved in the talks in a move which left council leader Norman Hamsphire expressing his surprise.
Here are the new annual charges per property band for East Lothian residents: (£)
- A 1052.79
- B 1228.25
- C 1403.71
- D 1579.18
- E 2074.86
- F 2566.17
- G 3092.56
- H 3868.99
Conservative group leader Councillor George McGuire said the budget put the council’s "financial struggles" ahead of the struggles being faced by every East Lothian household.
The increase will mean households in Band D will pay £1579.18 annual up from £1435.62.
Council leader Hampshire put forward the budget for approval saying the council tax increase would bring more than £9m additional revenue for public services.
He said people in the county had made it clear in consultations that they wanted investment in services not further cuts and were willing to pay extra to ensure that happens.
Among areas to see further investment will be adult social care which will received an additional £3.89 million, children’s serviced with an additional £2.75m, an additional £1.9m for education, and more than £800,000 each for both homelessness and supported accommodation and inclusion and wellbeing.
There are also additional funding boosts for Enjoy Leisure who run the sports centres and the Brunton Theatre Trust who both received an extra £200,000.
