LOCAL government body Cosla has said there is “absolutely no agreement” on Humza Yousaf’s announcement to freeze council tax next year.
The organisation described the move by the First Minister as “deplorable” and said it had no prior warning.
It launched an emergency meeting of political group leaders on Wednesday and said “real anger” had been expressed.
A statement said: “There is absolutely no agreement to freeze council tax next year.
READ MORE: Joe Biden blames Hamas for devastating Gaza hospital bombing
“The announcement of a council tax freeze as we said yesterday was made completely without reference to local government and there is no agreement to freeze council tax next year, the decision to freeze council tax is one which can only be made by councils.
“Our cross-party group leaders held an emergency meeting first thing this morning on the back of the announcement and there is real anger at the way this has been handled and what it puts at risk.”
The group added that it had called for an urgent meeting with the First Minister and his deputy Shona Robison.
The statement added: “We deplore the way the announcement was made and its substance, both of which fly in the face of the Verity House Agreement which we all recently signed.
“It has been shown that previous council tax freezes have been regressive, having no impact for the poorest in society and eroding the council tax base, compounding councils’ ongoing underfunding.
“We will explore the implications arising and what the Scottish Government might propose when we meet with the Deputy First Minister later today – but we are clear that local taxation and particularly council tax should be left for democratically elected councils to determine.”
The Verity House Agreement sets out the relationship between the Scottish Government and Cosla.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Yousaf said: "We will make sure councils are funded by the government for that council tax freeze.
"Let's be frank with each other, we're living in a cost of living crisis.
READ MORE: Richard Murphy applauds Humza Yousaf's 'brave' bond plans
"I, in my constituency surgeries, see people who are on above average salaries come to my constituency offices and ask for financial help. People who are nurses, who are police officers, who are teachers.
"Therefore it is right that in this cost of living crisis we try to help them with bills that are rising and rising and rising. One bill we are able then to help with is the council tax."
The Scottish Government has been contacted for further comment.
The Scottish Greens also expressed concerns about the move, saying they were worried about the effect it might have on “already strained frontline public services” if it is not properly funded.
The party’s finance spokesperson Ross Greer (above) MSP said: “Our local councils and people who rely on services like social care, schools and early years centres must not lose out as a result of this announcement.
“Green MSPs will now work with our government colleagues in the SNP to work through the details, ensure that their decision is sustainably finances and that the most vulnerable people in our communities do not see the services they rely on being underfunded as a result.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The freeze announced yesterday, fully funded by the Scottish Government, will benefit every Council Tax-payer in Scotland at a time when rising prices are putting significant strain on household finances.
“The Scottish Government remains wholly committed to the Verity House Agreement, and as part of that are continuing work with COSLA on a new fiscal framework for local authorities. We are also working on longer term reforms to the council tax system, which are being considered by the working group on local government funding that we are chairing jointly with COSLA.
“Both the First Minister and Deputy First Minister are meeting local authorities as a priority to discuss their concerns.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel