Doubt over council tax freeze as Falkirk one of 29 local authorities set to miss deadline

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Falkirk Council has not yet told the Scottish Government whether it intends to accept a proposed council freeze - despite a deadline of Friday.

Chief Finance Officer Amanda Templeman confirmed to members of Falkirk Council's executive on Tuesday that they have not yet responded to the request from Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Shona Robison.

They are one of 29 Scottish councils still to say whether they will take up the offer. Read more: Shocking rise in assaults on Falkirk Council staff prompts a call for more action Ms Templeman told members that just three of 32 councils in Scotland are setting their council tax in advance of the deadline.COSLA - the group that represents local authorities - continues to seek urgent talks with Ms Robison, who is also the Deputy First Minister.

They have been pressing the government to allow councils to increase council tax by up to five per cent, without forfeiting £144 million of funding earmarked for the freeze.The umbrella body argues that the proposed council tax freeze is not fully funded because the core budget has also been cut.There are also concerns that pay awards still to be made might not be funded by government, which COSLA says "will endanger local jobs and services".The umbrella body was critical of the freeze when first announced, saying it will be hugely damaging to council finances, which are already under pressure.It was also critical that the announcement was made by First Minister Humza Yousaf with no consultation of local authorities.The Scottish Government insists that the £144 million on offer does fully fund a council tax freeze, giving councils the equivalent of a five per cent rise.In a letter to councils, Ms Robinson said: "The cost crisis and high