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Eagle calls for freeze in Moray council tax


By Alan Beresford

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THE leader of Moray Council's Conservative group has called for a freeze in council tax in the region.

Moray Council Conservative group leader Councillor Tim Eagle. . Picture: Daniel Forsyth
Moray Council Conservative group leader Councillor Tim Eagle. . Picture: Daniel Forsyth

Councillor Tim Eagle (Buckie, Conservative) made the call ahead of the council setting its budget on February 22.

Earlier this year the council froze council charges in an effort to support local people, the Conservative group believe despite what they branded as a "poor settlement" from the Scottish Government that a freeze on council tax must be considered.

Councillor Eagle said: "The Scottish Government provided one of the worst settlements ever this year to Moray Council creating a wave of shock through councils in Scotland and devastation for the council budget.

"At the same time the SNP decided this year to uncap the potential to raise council tax giving councils for the first time in 15years the ability to raise council tax as needed.

"Quickly the SNP changed their mind with the cabinet secretary releasing further funds to protect against council tax rises. That has provided Moray an additional £1.9 million to Moray Council more than the likely increase in council tax would bring in.

"Whilst this additional money far from covers the overall pressures on the council it allows councillors to recognise the bad timing an increase in council tax would bring and seek to freeze it in an effort to offer some relief to local people.

"My group have heard directly from people across Moray's communities about the pressures they face, businesses continue to recover, electric and gas costs are leaping up and food prices are soaring. Can we really justify adding to this burden by increasing council tax?

"The council have already frozen council charges surely we must go one further and freeze council tax as well.

"We will fight hard for other councillors to support this but I fear the SNP administration will again not match their words of concern they so readily put in the press.

"If council tax is frozen this will add pressure on the council and we must therefore use every means possible to call for fair funding and more support from the Scottish Government so next year we can continue to keep any rises in council tax as low as possible.

"There is no doubt that this will stretch Moray Council, but given all that has happened surely now of all times is the time to be brave and bold."

Leader of Moray Council, Councillor Graham Leadbitter. Picture: Daniel Forsyth
Leader of Moray Council, Councillor Graham Leadbitter. Picture: Daniel Forsyth

However, Moray Council leader Councillor Graham Leadbitter (Elgin City South, SNP) warned that the local authority could not afford a "short-sighted" approach to council tax, stressing that various mitigation measures to soften the blow of any rise were being put in place.

He continued: “Moray Council is seeing considerable pressure on our services and on our income streams, especially as a consequence of the pandemic.

"There are going to be significant financial pressures in coming years and it is important that we are careful not to add to those pressures by having a short-sighted approach to council tax.

“Our budget proposal will include a below inflation increase of three per cent on council tax, however I would stress that many people on low incomes are eligible for Council Tax Reduction, in total across Scotland around half a million people are eligible.

"In addition the Scottish Government is making one-off payments of £150 to council tax payers in Bands A to D to help with the increase in the cost of living. In the meantime the Tories have cut Universal Credit by over a thousand pounds a year, which has had a far bigger impact on vulnerable households.

“Finally, it is more than little ironic that the Conservatives have argued against the SNP’s council tax freeze but seem unwilling to take a more difficult decision to protect locally delivered public services, including education and social care, which I know people in Moray very much value.”


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