At the Fife Council Cabinet Committee, it was agreed by Councillors to back changes to the consultation report on Council Tax increases for band E and above properties proposed by Fife Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Councillor James Calder.

The Liberal Democrat changes included stating that the Council was definitively opposed to the proposals by the Scottish Government, emphasising the Cost of Living impacts, the need for a fairer system of local taxation and a better funding formula from the Scottish Government for Councils.

The SNP group went against their own Government’s line in backing the proposals.

Councillor Calder said,

I was extremely concerned that the Administration were considering proposals that would still lead to hard-pressed households having huge Council Tax increases during the Cost of Living Crisis.

The SNP/Green Scottish Government clearly have their heads in the sand when it comes to these issues- instead of hammering households during this crisis they should be properly funding Councils and looking at a fairer system.

Even their own councillors backed our position locally that these tax increases shouldn’t happen- in direct opposition to their Government’s proposals.

I felt Fife Council needs to send a strong message to them to get their act together and improve local funding, rather than taxing people already struggling with inflation and high interest rates.

I’m glad that the Council’s Cabinet Committee agreed with me and I hope the Scottish Government listens.