Falkirk councillors disagree over plans to increase council tax payments

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Plans to raise council tax by charging people in higher bands around 24 per cent more are not being supported by Falkirk councillors.

Members of Falkirk Council 's executive were asked to approve a response to the Scottish Government and COSLA’s joint Consultation on a Fairer Council Tax when they met on Tuesday.

The Scottish Government proposals say they aim to address criticism that the current Council Tax means those in the lower bands pay a higher proportion of the value of their property than those in higher bands. Read more: Falkirk grass cutting changes to boost nature get nomination in council 'Oscars' If agreed this proposal would raise an additional £176 million nationally, with an estimated £4.3 million from Falkirk Council residents.Nationally, it will impact on 28 per cent of properties, but 24 per cent of properties in Falkirk Council area.Falkirk Council's draft response said they would like to see any increases phased in over three years and stressed that a complete review of council tax bands is long overdue.The leader of the Labour Group, Councillor Anne Hannah, said her group would not support the proposal.She quoted a Fraser of Allander report that said: "tweaking around the edges of the council tax does not fix its fundamental flaws".The Conservative group did not support her motion but proposed their own, saying that it was clear there was no consensus and suggesting that each group submitted their own response.Speaking after the debate, Conservative group leader James Kerr said: "The SNP Government have a track-record of cutting local government spending.

Now, to make up for the inevitable shortfall, their plan is to increase the taxes residents in Falkirk pay."The Falkirk Conservatives cannot