Rayonorthsoundlocalnews

Opposition parties urged to clarify stance on local taxation

Published 5th Mar 2016

Opposition parties have been challenged to set out their proposals for local taxation after reforms to the council tax were revealed by the SNP.

Local Government Minister Marco Biagi called on party leaders in Scotland to 'ditch the posturing' and detail their plans after the Scottish Government announced the changes.

Under the reforms, unveiled by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the average Band E household will pay around ÂŁ2 more per week from April 2017, with those in the highest band paying an extra ÂŁ10 a week - an average of ÂŁ517 a year.

The council tax freeze will also end at the same point, with local authorities able to increase the charge by a maximum of 3% a year, potentially raising up to ÂŁ70 million for local services.

Ms Sturgeon confirmed there are no plans for a revaluation of the council tax, which remains based on 1991 property values.

Mr Biagi said: 'Earlier this week, we set out plans to reform local taxation by making the council tax fairer, protecting low-income families and raising ÂŁ100 million for schools - but all the opposition parties have had to offer is tired-rhetoric and a complete avoidance of any detail. If any of the opposition parties want to start being taken even remotely seriously, they need to be clear with people in Scotland what their own plans are - and accept that simply carping from the sidelines isn't going to cut it. As far back as 2009, Labour commissioned a report to decide what their policy should be on local tax reform - and to this day, it still hasn't been published. In the last seven years Labour in Scotland have had four leaders and fought six elections - but haven't had a single credible, detailed plan on local tax.'

He added: 'The SNP has set out fair and progressive reforms to the council tax - and I'm looking forward to asking people in Scotland to support them. Other parties now have a duty to set out their own ideas - or ditch the posturing and get behind the SNP's fair, balanced and reasonable proposals.''