STUC on Council Tax Reform

March 2nd 2016

STUC on Council Tax Reform

March 2nd 2016

Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary Grahame Smith said

“The STUC welcomes the First Minister’s commitment to ending the Council Tax freeze next year and to introducing some additional progressivity to the system.

“However, in totality, the measures announced by the First Minister today are very disappointing. With over half of all homes in the wrong band it is scarcely credible that reforms will not be accompanied by a revaluation and, at the very least, the introduction of new, higher bands was surely a prerequisite for persisting with the Council Tax. These weak reforms could have been implemented under existing powers years ago. The capping of Council Tax increases at 3% and the hypothecation of revenues does little to further the cause of local democracy”.

ENDS

For further information contact Stephen Boyd or Dave Moxham 0141 337 8100