HOUSEHOLDERS in Helensburgh and Lomond will face bigger council tax bills in the coming year, it was confirmed on Thursday.

Argyll and Bute Council's annual budget meeting saw near-unanimous approval for plans to increase council tax by 3 per cent across the local authority area - on top of a tax rise for higher-band homes already set by the Scottish Government.

The council's 3 per cent rise will raise an additional £4.2 million to protect services and jobs in the area.

Council leader Dick Walsh said: “People use council services every day. From roads to recruitment services, from schools for our young people to support for our vulnerable residents, council services contribute to everyone’s lives.

"Our priority in setting this budget has been to protect the services people need, and to continue investing in a prosperous future for the area as a whole.

"We have worked hard to make this possible. We have delivered another £1.4 million of efficiency savings this year without impact on communities. We have continued to identify ‘spend to save’ projects, and taken actions suggested by communities, that will make savings in the years to come. We have done all possible to make best use of the funding we have. This drive, to overcome challenge through transformation and change, means that we are in a better position than many other councils.

"However, the harsh facts of drastically reducing funding mean that we need the help of our communities to protect the services they use.

"Following the Scottish Government’s decision to end the nine year council tax freeze, we will raise income by introducing a 3 per cent increase in council tax. This, combined with additional council tax changes, will raise an additional £4.2 million to support services and jobs for people in Argyll and Bute.”

The 3 per cent increase will mean that council tax band D increases by £35.34 a year, to £1,213.34.

The council agreed the following at the meeting:

- To invest £2 million in roads capital improvement works.

- To make an additional £200,000 available in 2017.18 to support change in bin collections and ground maintenance, and initiatives to tackle problems with dog fouling, litter and marine litter, with an emphasis on sustainable community initiatives.

- An allocation of £54.223m to the Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership.

- Funding for the Argyll and the Isles Tourism Co-operative of £120,k between 2017 and 2020.

- £500k for footpath capital improvement works.

- Continuing the three year service level agreements with the Islay and Mid-Argyll community Swimming pools on the basis of the current funding position.

- Fees and charges inflationary increase at 3 per cent.

- £200k for the stage 2 submission for the Rothesay Townscape Heritage Initiative project.

- £700k towards the provision of 3G pitches at Islay High and Rosneath Primary schools, subject to production of satisfactory business cases.

- £119k for the Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets initiative.

- £1m for legionella-related work in council buildings as required by legislation.

Councillor Walsh concluded: “We are protecting jobs and services in challenging times when our economy most needs them.

"We are taking forward the investments made in the past few years and building those up even further in the areas which people tell us are important.

"We are providing a secure and stable platform for future years with work on a medium to longer term financial strategy.

"We are making the very best use of the resources we have in challenging times, continuing to manage them prudently and effectively, for the present day and for the future.

"This budget takes Argyll and Bute even further along the road to future prosperity, by supporting stability, security and success.”

Alternative budget proposals were put forward by the council's SNP and Reform opposition groups; both endorsed the 3 per cent increase in council tax, but the administration's proposals won the day with 20 votes.

The SNP's plans received nine votes and those of the Reform group three.

Only one councillor at the meeting - Lomond North independent George Freeman - did not vote for any of the three proposals.