By one vote today Aberdeenshire councillors voted in favour of an across-the-board 2.5% rise in council tax.
The SNP/Labour administration’s budget was approved by 33 votes to 32 following two hours of debate at Woodhill House.
I was one of the 32 councillors who did not vote for the increase. The council already has to implement a Scottish Government increase for houses in bands E and above. Our view is that local authorities should be left to decide their own budgets and council tax levels, and not be dictated to by the Scottish Government as has been the case since 2007.
The government-imposed increase affects some 42% of all houses across Aberdeenshire – from an extra 7.5% or almost £105 on a band E house to a whopping rise of 22.5% – almost £514 – on a Band H house. However in the North Kincardine ward (Portlethen, Newtonhill and the rural area) this will impact on 57.59% households. I have attached the breakdown below.
Now add a further 2.5% to the bill. By the way, why 2.5% and not the 3% maximum which the Scottish Government would allow? There was no explanation.
What should also be kept in mind is that the Scottish Water from Scottish Water will also be added to council tax bills.
Here is how councillors voted in the revenue budget:
Councillor Evison, seconded by Councillor Thomson, moved the Partnership recommendations tabled at the meeting including a Band D equivalent Council Tax figure for 2017/18 of £1,169.53.
As an amendment, Councillor Gifford, seconded by Councillor K L Clark, moved the Alliance recommendations tabled at the meeting including a Band D equivalent Council Tax figure for 2017/18 of £1,141.
For the motion (33) Councillors Aitchison, A J Allan, A M Allan, Bews, Blackett, C C Buchan, Cassie, Christie, G J Clark, L Clark, Cox, Dick, Duncan, Evison, Ford, Grant, Hendry, Ingram, Johnston, Lonchay, McRae, Merson, Petrie, Pirie, Pratt, Shand, S W Smith, D Stewart, B H Stuart, Tait, Thomson, Topping and Vernal.
For the amendment (32) Councillors Agnew, Argyle, Bellarby, A S Buchan, Carr, Chapman, C Clark, K L Clark, Cowling, Cullinane, Davidson, Findlater, Gardiner, Gifford, Hood, Howatson, Ingleby, Latham, McKail, Mollison, Nelson, Norrie, Owen, Partridge, Robertson, Roy, N J Smith, M M Stewart, I W Taylor, Walker, Watt and Webster.
The motion was carried.
During the debate it was also mentioned that the current year monitoring shows a possible end-of-year overspend of £3.577 million. If that turns out to be the case it will be the first time this has happened.
Business rates also featured with co-leader Richard Thomson (SNP) telling councillors he wants to use an extra £6m announced in the Scottish Government’s budget on a scheme to ease the impact of business rates rises. At the moment we do not have any details of this money – which is being allocated to councils across the country as part of an agreement at Holyrood with the Greens.
The council agreed to increase rents by a fixed 3.75% pa for the three years which will mean the average weekly rent will rise from £68.19 to £70.75.
A total of £132 million is to be spent on capital projects across Aberdeenshire in the coming year, with the approval of the 2017/18 Capital Plan. This will include new schools such as at Uryside and Kintore, the Hill of Banchory sporting facilities, and significant investment in the AWPR.
There were a few mentions of the forthcoming council elections during the debates. Well, residents can give their verdict then.
