COUNCIL tax payers in Helensburgh - and throughout Argyll and Bute - are likely to see their bills go up when the local authority agrees its spending plans for the coming year later this month.

A recommendation to increase council tax by 3 per cent – a move already taken by several other Scottish councils – is contained in a report to the authority's policy and resources committee, which meets on February 16.

The move, if agreed, would result in the council tax for a Band D property in the area going up to £1,213 from the current level of £1,178 - an increase of around £3 per month.

Council tax rates for 2017-18 in Argyll and Bute won't be confirmed until the authority's annual budget meeting on February 23.

The recommendation is part of a package of measures which, if adopted in full, would result in the council not just balancing its budget but ending up with a surplus of £2.58 million.

The authority's head of strategic finance, Kirsty Flanagan, predicts in her report that the 3 per cent increase will raise £1.239m for the council's funds.

The council has already agreed to end the council tax discount on second homes, raising an additional £380,000, while an increase to council tax in bands E, F, G and H – already directed by the Scottish Government – is expected to raise £2.306m.

Councillors will also be asked to approve a 3 per cent increase in most charges to the public for using council services.

Local authorities in Edinburgh, East Renfrewshire, the Borders, Midlothian and the Western Isles have already decided to raise council tax by 3 per cent, while Aberdeenshire Council has approved a 2.5 per cent increase.

An Argyll and Bute spokesperson said: 

“Due to significant cuts made by the Scottish Government this year, the head of strategic finance has made several recommendations, including that the council may wish to end the council tax freeze and replace with a 3 per cent increase, which could raise an additional £1.239m.

“The council will make the final decision at its meeting on Thursday, February 23."