STIRLING COUNCIL SHOULD FOLLOW THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, ACCEPT SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND PUT TAXPAYERS FIRST, SAYS BROWN 

The MSP for Bridge of Allan and Dunblane Keith Brown has slammed the news that Argyll & Bute Council has chosen to defy the Scottish Government’s Council Tax Freeze and instead hike Council Tax for local residents by 10% – sparking concerns that other Unionist led local authorities, like Stirling Council, could do the same. 

The Council Tax Freeze proposed by the Scottish Government will be fully funded and ensure that Council Tax does not increase any further. As it stands, Scottish Council tax is already the lowest on average of any UK nation, with the Average Band D Council Tax bill in Scotland being £1,417, compared to £2.065 to England. 

The latest opinion polls suggest that this move is supported by 69% of Scots. 

Stirling Council is currently governed by a minority Labour administration which requires support from the Tories to enact its policies and budgets, meaning that the local authority is in prime position to defy the Council Tax freeze and hike taxes on local residents, in order to create a political dispute with the Scottish Government. 

Keith Brown MSP has called on Stirling Council to accept the Scottish Government’s funding on offer, implement the Council Taz Freeze, save taxpayers money, and implement the positive suggestions of the SNP group on Stirling Council, to save Dunblane library and other key services, whilst meeting the legal requirements for a competent, balanced budget. 

Commenting, SNP MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Keith Brown, said: 

“The Council Tax Freeze will make a huge difference to local residents during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.” 

“Scotland’s Council Tax is already the lowest on average of any UK nation thanks to the SNP – with the average band D Council Tax bill in Scotland being around £600 a year less than it’s equivalent in England.” 

“This freeze will be matched by funding by the Scottish Government – meaning that there is no real reason for local authorities not to implement this change, except to cause a political rammy over the policies of the Scottish Government.” 

“The SNP group on Stirling Council has quite rightly proposed a far more balanced budget, which would accept this freeze, protect Dunblane library and other key services, whilst continuing to meet the legal requirements for a competent, balanced budget.” 

“I call on Labour and Tory-run Stirling Council to follow the rest of the country, implement the Council Tax Freeze, save local residents money, and follow the recommendations of the SNP group on Stirling Council.”