Humza Yousaf's deputy fails to wring council tax u-turn from rebel local authority after summit
dailyrecord.co.ukThe Scottish Government has failed to persuade a rebel local authority to drop its plan to increase council tax.SNP Finance Secretary Shona Robison met Inverclyde leader Stephen McCabe about backing a council tax freeze, but the summit broke up without agreement.First Minister Humza Yousaf announced a national council tax freeze last year and left it to his deputy to deliver on his promise.She has said she will give councils a share of around £200m on condition they implement a freeze.Labour-run Inverclyde refused to go along with the plan after voting for an 8.2 per cent rise, as did councillors in Argyll and Bute who pushed through a 10 per cent increase.McCabe offered a “compromise” of council tax rebates while Robison arranged talks with both local authorities.The talks did not lead to a deal with Inverclyde.McCabe said: “I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with the Deputy First Minister, but I am deeply disappointed that she continues to disrespect the Council’s democratic decision to raise Council Tax, which we believe is in the interests of the residents of Inverclyde.“I am also disappointed that she has rejected the eminently reasonable compromise I put forward of a one-off Council Tax discount for 2024/25, which would effectively achieve a freeze for the next 12 months.“I will now pursue the Council’s share of the £62.7m of the funding the Deputy First Minister has now confirmed is available following the UK Spring Budget through COSLA.
All Councils should be entitled to a share of this funding irrespective of the decision they took on Council Tax.”An SNP source said the Inverclyde rise was a "gift" to the party as they try to hold on to the area's Westminster seat from a resurgent Labour.The insider
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