Day: January 23, 2016

Dear Editor

The freeze on Council Tax by the Tory government was seen by many as a good move to help people; many others said look into the why and the consequences of that action.

The average saving brought about by the freeze was around 50p per week; the shortfall in council income would be made up – but not fully – by a government grant. This money could only be spent on issues approved by the government, with councils having no control, and that is why many people raised the questions ‘why?’ and ‘what consequences would there be?’

Government policy is to cut public services and controlling their finances: the council tax freeze was a step in that direction.

It now seems, at last, that councils are beginning to understand the government’s intention to break local services, decision-making and control.

Councils everywhere will have to pressure the Scottish Parliament to end the council tax freeze and work towards the abolition of the council tax itself, introducing a new fairer tax. In the meantime we have to make sure councils do not attempt to impose large increases but to look at other ways of easing the burden on their communities, for example:

A Tourist Tax, as in other countries

Private schools to pay tax on their income by abolishing their status as charities

Loan deals made by the Council to be renegotiated

These ideas among other things

A.Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens