London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 23, 2026

Council tax bills in seven areas to increase by at least 5%

Council tax bills in seven areas to increase by at least 5%

Eight more of Scotland's 32 councils have made their final budget decisions for the year ahead.

Aberdeen, Moray, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire confirmed a council tax increase of 5% to address rising cost pressures.

In East Renfrewshire it will rise by 6% and in Falkirk by 7%, as the local authority needs to save £63m over the next four years.

Meanwhile, Perth and Kinross Council agreed a 3.9% increase.

Cuts to local services and increases in council tax are likely as authorities grapple with major funding gaps.

A council tax rise of 10% had been recommended in Aberdeen, after the same percentage rise was approved in Orkney.

On Tuesday councillors in Dumfries and Galloway raised council tax by 6%; in East Lothian it will increase by 7%.

Individual local authorities across Scotland have shortfalls ranging from around £7m to £120m, according to research published by the BBC earlier this month.

Council tax only generates about 13% of local government funding, with most of their cash coming from the Scottish government.

Councils have faced a long term squeeze on their finances and argue that they are underfunded.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced an extra £100m for councils last week, which he said equated to a 3% real-terms increase.

There will be a Scottish government-led debate at Holyrood on Wednesday focusing on the issue of local government finance.


What decisions are councils facing?


Aberdeen City Council has revealed it needs to make savings of £46.6m to balance its books.

The list of savings options includes plans to cut £160,000 of funding to VisitAberdeenshire.

The tourism agency is funded by the city and Aberdeenshire councils, along with economic development partnership Opportunity North East.

In East Renfrewshire, there is already a £40 charge, on top of council tax, for households that want garden waste removed. This will go up to £50.

East Renfrewshire Council is considering increasing the charge for picking up garden waste


The council has decided to sell its distinctive civic number plate HS 0 to the highest bidder, with experts estimating it could be worth £150,000-£250,000.

Teacher and school support staff numbers have been protected though there will be a reduction in school janitorial and cleaning services.

Council bosses in Falkirk are set to use cash for paying off privately built secondary school debt to free up £15m to help deal with a £60m budget shortfall.

The "technical" change in how the council pays for the construction of the high schools will allow it to set its budget without drastically slashing services.

The change, approved this year by the Scottish government, effectively means that local authorities can now spread the cost of payments for any public-private finance projects over the length of the building's expected life, rather than the length of any contract.

Falkirk Council has agreed in principle to offload up to 133 ageing properties, a list that includes Polmonthill ski centre and Bo'ness recreation centre, while the future of Grangemouth stadium is also uncertain.

Scottish athlete Eilish McColgan has backed calls for Grangemouth Stadium to be saved


Council tax in Moray will go up by 5% from April, meaning a band D bill will rise by just over £68 a year to £1,430.

The council said £49.6m is expected to be brought in from council tax in the coming year.

Around £28m needs to be found over the next two financial years. Plans include using just under £14.77m in Covid reserves to balance the books.

There is also a proposal to increase temporary accommodation charges by 27%. Another proposal would see a 10% rise in the cost of burying the dead, with charges for the interment of local adults set to rise from £949 to £1,044.

In North Ayrshire, the Arran outdoor education centre could be closed to save cash.

Around 200 full-time equivalent jobs could go at Perth and Kinross Council over the next three years.

However the council said a "small reduction" in staff numbers was likely to be achieved through managing existing vacancies and staff turnover.

A raft of cuts were proposed as council bosses attempt to fill a £31m funding shortfall.

While teachers themselves have been protected from cuts by the Scottish government, schools could still be among the worst hit.

Recommended savings include removing all school crossing patrollers, stopping primary swimming lessons, closing breakfast clubs and raising the price of school meals.

South Ayrshire Council has to find £37.8m in savings over the next three years.

The council has has kept its cards close to its chest but warned of difficult choices, given it has already spent around £7.5m more than it budgeted for last March.

This is largely ascribed to spiralling inflation and a 50% increase in energy prices as well as higher than expected staff pay settlements.

In West Dunbartonshire, Dalmuir Library will be moved to Dalmuir community centre under proposals to plug the council's £21.6m budget gap.

The local authority also confirmed its school clothing grant will revert to £150 per child each year, after it was increased using one-off Covid funding last year.

Further savings will be made from a review of senior early learning and childcare officers and cuts to the budget for grounds maintenance in educational premises.

It also unveiled a new £1m support package to help those struggling financially in the community through measures such as monthly subsidies to food banks.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Government Reviews Long-Term Balance Between Cost Relief, Industry Support, and Public Investment Priorities
BBC Could Receive Permanent Royal Charter Under Government Proposal
Northern Ireland Proposes End to Severe Weather Exemptions for Electricity Compensation Rules
Andy Burnham Holds Talks With UK Devolved Leaders on Regional Cooperation and Devolution
House of Lords Launches Inquiry Into Risks Facing UK Democratic Institutions
ScottishPower Renewables Plans Major Rebuild of Whitelee Wind Farm With Fewer Larger Turbines
UK and Italy Leaders Discuss Global Combat Air Programme and Future European Cooperation
UK Government Announces Six Hundred Million Pound Aerospace Investment Package at Farnborough Airshow
European Union Approves UK Participation in Ninety Billion Euro Ukraine Support Loan Framework
Rolls-Royce Warns UK Government Over Jet Engine Funding Decision and Future Manufacturing Plans
UK Inflation Falls to Two Point Six Percent in June as Fuel and Food Prices Ease
Andy Burnham Begins Premiership With Two Pound England Bus Fare Cap and Electricity Tax Cut Plan
YouGov Poll Shows Tight Competition Among UK Political Parties
Space Technology Investment Expands Through UK-US Cooperation at Farnborough Airshow
UK Opens Final India Young Professionals Scheme Ballot for Three Thousand Applicants
United Kingdom Approved for Ukraine Financial Support Initiative With EU Partners
UK and Ireland Leaders Discuss Security, Energy and Regional Cooperation
British Heart Foundation Identifies Ten UK Areas With Severe Shortages of Defibrillators
Former Southern Water Executives Charged Over Alleged Water Test Manipulation Scheme
IMF Warns UK Economic Growth Will Slow to One Percent in 2026
UK Inflation Falls to Two Point Six Percent in June as Food and Energy Costs Ease
United Kingdom Joins European Union Loan Mechanism to Support Ukraine’s Defense Needs
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Introduces Two-Pound Bus Fare Cap and Energy Tax Relief Measures Across England
Northern Ireland Secures Additional Infrastructure Funding From UK Treasury
Wales Approves Port Investment Plans to Support Green Energy Supply Chains
UK Financial Regulator Simplifies Stock Market Rules to Attract More Listings
UK Reports Decline in Small Boat Crossings Across the English Channel
UK Government Creates Emergency Support Fund for Financially Pressured Universities
Scottish Government Launches Economic Strategy Focused on Innovation and Renewable Industries
UK Expands Sustainable Farming Incentives to Support Environmental Measures
UK Government Introduces New Neighbourhood Policing Standards Across England and Wales
UK Competition Regulator Opens Review of Artificial Intelligence Foundation Models
UK Deepens Indo-Pacific Security Cooperation After Talks With Singapore and Japan
UK Announces Rail Modernisation Plan for Northern England With New Infrastructure Funding
UK Government Updates Housing Planning Rules to Accelerate Residential Construction
UK Approves Major North Sea Offshore Wind Project to Support Clean Power Goals
UK Health Service Begins Major Digital Upgrade to Cut Hospital Waiting Times
Bank of England Holds Interest Rates Steady as UK Inflation Pressures Remain Persistent
UK Universities and Industry Expand Space and Defense Research Partnerships
House of Lords Approves Social Housing Bill Amendments on Shared Ownership Rights
House of Lords Advances Civil Aviation Bill With New Passenger Protection Measures
UK Government Suspends Tariffs on Fertilizer and Food Imports to Reduce Costs
Russell Group Universities Support New UK Business Department Focused on Innovation
UK Parliament Opens Inquiry Into Transport Barriers Facing Young Jobseekers
Home Builders Federation Calls for Lower Costs as New UK Government Sets Housing Priorities
Andy Burnham Meets UK Devolved Leaders to Strengthen Regional Cooperation
Andy Burnham Holds First International Calls With Trump, Macron, and Zelenskyy
Andy Burnham Reshuffles Cabinet With John Healey Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer
Andy Burnham Government Removes VAT From Electricity Bills to Cut Household Costs
Andy Burnham Becomes United Kingdom Prime Minister After Sir Keir Starmer Resigns
×