HOUSEHOLDERS in Helensburgh and Lomond will see their council tax bills rise by 3 per cent when the new financial year begins in April.

The move, which will set Band D payments for households in Helensburgh and beyond at £1,249 a year, was unanimously backed at Argyll and Bute Council's budget meeting in Lochgilphead on Thursday.

Council leader Aileen Morton said the rise in council tax was essential to ensure the authority was in a ‘break-even’ position for the coming financial year.

She said: “There is a near-£3m gap in our capital plan, which outlines investment in our vital infrastructure such as roads and IT. This wipes out any surplus in our revenue budget – the money we spend on delivering day to day services.

“Breaking even does require raising council tax by 3 per cent. That’s the basis on which the Scottish Government predicated its local government settlement. 

“So, in line with the Scottish Government’s suggested approach and, like most councils, I expect we will take forward that proposal.”

The council’s spending plans for 2018-19 also included a 3 per cent increase, in line with inflation, in most of the fees and charges levied by the council – a move which is expected to bring in an additional £277,000 – along with £15 million of investment over two years in road and footpath improvements and an extra £1.5m for health and social care services.

A small number of exceptions apply to the fee increases – most notably, there will be no increase in entry fees at council public toilets where fees are charged, and no rise in current parking charges, though there are separate proposals to introduce charging at facilities in Arrochar and at Duck Bay which are currently free.

* More on the council's budget meeting to follow.