The leader of Argyll and Bute Council has written to the UK Government urging it to hand fresh cash straight to the region. 

Argyll and Bute is the third council to ask the UK Government that any additional Barnett funding from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's budget this week should go direct to local authorities. 

Scotland's deputy first minister, Shona Robison, has indicated that should £45 million of  funding flow from the UK Government as part of its budget, she will pass that on to Scottish local authorities.

Argyll and Bute Council’s share would be expected to be around £800,000.

However, Ms Robison has also indicated that this funding would only be made available to councils that froze council tax, in line with the Scottish Government’s announcement of a freeze earlier this year.

Last week, councillors in Argyll and Bute voted through a 10 per cent rise in council tax - defying the pledge by First Minister Humza Yousaf, made at the SNP's annual conference in October, that council tax bills would be frozen across Scotland.

Council leader Robin Currie has written to Levelling Up secretary Michael Gove seeking his assistance in ensuring, if this funding becomes available, that all councils receive it.

He is joining West Dunbartonshire Council and Inverclyde Council in seeking this support.

Councillors in Inverclyde voted in favour of an 8.2 per cent increase in council tax - and a further 6 per cent for 2025-26 - at their budget meeting last week.

West Dunbartonshire will set its spending plans and council tax levels later this week.

Both West Dunbartonshire and Inverclyde are run by Labour administrations - a minority in Inverclyde's case - while Argyll and Bute's ruling administration comprises Conservative, Liberal Democrat and independent councillors.

The ruling Argyll and Bute group's budget plans won the day by 18 votes to 16 against an alternative, put forward by the council's Strategic Opposition Partnership - comprising SNP, Labour, Green and some independents - which would have seen council tax rates frozen.

Councillor Currie said: “Communities need council services to live well locally. Council services need funding.

"Increasing council tax was an extremely difficult decision to take but it was the one we had to take, to save vital services and jobs.

"The Scottish Government funding settlement available to the council on the basis of a council tax freeze would have meant cuts to services.

"Reducing the quality of life in Argyll and Bute by cutting vital council services would not only have affected people’s day-to-day lives but would also have been counter-productive to our urgent need to grow our population and economy.

"The amount of additional funding potentially available would not be enough to remove the council tax increase but would provide welcome protection for services against budget gaps we know are coming in future years.

"If more much needed funding becomes available, people in Argyll and Bute have a right to receive their share, and we are seeking the UK Government’s support in getting it.”