MSP welcomes couincil tax freeze for seventh year.

The SNP MSP said this year’s financial package not only sees the council tax frozen, but includes extra money for additional responsibilities, including funding for those affected by the ‘Bedroom Tax’, council tax benefit reforms, free school meals and childcare expansion.

Ms McLeod said: “This is the seventh successive year that the Scottish Government has fully funded a council tax freeze, which is good news for communities and households who will benefit from the savings this brings in a challenging economic climate.

“ A band D household in East Dunbartonshire will have saved £1671.53 with the council tax freeze since the SNP took office in 2007 by the end of this term in office.

“That saving is fully funded by the Scottish Government, a fact which is often overlooked by the council’s administration councillors, with the Lib Dems in particular publicly bemoaning the fact they can’t increase our council tax.

“Some of the longer serving councillors haven’t gotten used to the new way of working with the Scottish Government and the social contract we have with the people of Scotland – we don’t ring fence finances the way they used to be, so councils can prioritise their spending on the services that need it the most.

“Between 1997 and 2007 East Dunbartonshire council tax rose by 48% or £371 for a band D property under Lib Dem and other administrations – household budgets are stretched enough which is why it is so important the council tax continues to be frozen and the social contract is honoured.”