John Swinney dismisses fears SNP will break council tax promise

Oct 12 2008 By Steve Dinneen

FINANCE Secretary John Swinney has denied the SNP will break another election pledge by un-freezing council tax next year.

The Scottish Government struck a deal with all 32 local authorities to freeze charges in exchange for an extra £70million of funds a year.

Swinney yesterday vowed to freeze tax bills for at least the next three years.

But he will now come under massive pressure to hand councils more cash as they struggle against inflation and soaring fuel costs.

He said: "The council tax freeze is funded in full by the Scottish Government and we will provide the resources to freeze it throughout this parliament.

"At a time when fuel and food bills are soaring, council tax is the one bill not going up."

Council tax has more than doubled since Labour took power in 1997.

Freezing charges was a major election pledge for the SNP. A U-turn next year would be a major blow to the Government.

The SNP have so far failed to deliver on cutting primary school sizes and recruiting 1000 extra police.

Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell said local authorities would petition for more funds through umbrella group Cosla.

Leaders have said councils need another £70million a year on top of the £70million pledged by Government.

Purcell said: "Cosla will seek a renegotiation of the local government settlement with the Scottish Government. The world has moved on significantly since the concordat was signed. "Public services across the country face unprecedented pressure." Cosla president Pat Watters said: "It was a three-year financial settlement but we had a clause that allowed us to go in on an annual basis to discuss the pressures on local authorities."

Yesterday SNP-controlled Fife Council said it would extend the council tax freeze until 2011 at least.

Their announcement coincided with the start of campaigning for the Glenrothes by-election, where SNP candidate Peter Grant is tipped to take the formerly safe Labour seat.

Meanwhile there are fears of a winter of public service strikes after Unison union leaders said they wanted to reject a new pay offer following a series of one-day stoppages.

Members will be balloted to reject the three per cent offer followed by 2.5 per cent over the next two years.

But a senior local government source said the decision "beggared belief".

He said: "These dinosaurs are living in the past if they think they can reject a 5.5 per cent deal like this in the present climate."

MAILFILE

COUNCILS claim they will be forced to cut vital services because of the tax freeze.

Sheltered housing for the elderly and disabled has been hit as wardens were laid off in North Ayrshire.

Bin collections in North Lanarkshire are down to once a fortnight, sparking claims of rat infestations.

Free school meals for children in primary one to three are under threat. This pledge was a key election promise from the SNP.

Schools face closure as councils tighten purse strings. In Edinburgh, 22 schools are under threat. Paisley Grammar sacked all learning and behaviour support teachers in June.

East Dunbartonshire, Highland, Angus, South Ayrshire and Scottish Borders councils have all cut their Choose Life services, which help tackle rising suicide rates.

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