COUNCILLORS in Argyll and Bute are set to consider reversing their decision to impose a 10 per cent council tax increase on households across the area - but what will it mean for household bills?

The announcement was made on Tuesday after weeks of talks between senior councillors and officials from both Argyll and Bute Council and the Scottish Government.

But the decision to reverse the move, and to freeze council tax rates instead, cannot be made at the flick of a switch.

As is the case every year, council tax rates have to be set by councillors, in public, at a full council meeting - and the same will have to happen if councillors decide they want to change their mind and scrap plans for the 10 per cent hike.

However, that meeting almost certainly won't take place until after April 1 - the day that, according to the legislation on local government finance, the new council tax year begins, and when the first council tax payment of the new financial year is due (or taken out of residents' bank accounts).

The Advertiser has seen a letter written by Scotland's finance secretary, and deputy first minister, Shona Robison, in which she says she understands the special meeting will happen on Monday, April 15.

Argyll and Bute Council has set out answers to some of the biggest questions - including how much you'll have to pay on April 1, and what will happen if the 10 per cent increase is reversed.

Here's what they're saying...

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Why is the council considering freezing the council tax now?

"The council has secured more funding for Argyll and Bute from the Scottish Government, so are now in a position to look at freezing the council tax while also saving the council services people need and use every day. 

"Following the council’s discussions with the Scottish Government, Argyll and Bute will receive additional funding totalling around £6.26m which means that the council’s overall financial circumstances are improved.

"Some of this is for severe weather support, some depends on freezing council tax."

Why could the council not freeze council tax when it set its budget in February?

"The council took the decision to increase council tax to save the local services and jobs that people depend on every day, and need to live well locally. 

"This decision protects vital services from the debilitating cuts that would have been demanded by multi-million pound budget gaps. You can read more in our news release.

"Securing much-needed additional funding means the council can consider freezing the council tax now."

When will the council decide about the council tax?

"A special meeting of council is being arranged for as soon as is practical, so that councillors can consider our new financial circumstances and decide from there."

What does this mean for council tax payments?

"Councils have to take the council tax payments that are due on April 1 – this is obligatory under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended) and the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 1992 (as amended).

"These payments will be based on the 10 per cent council tax increase amount.

"The special meeting of council may have to take place after April 1.

"If that’s the case, and the council decides to freeze the council tax, this will be backdated and applied from April 1.

"The extra paid on any council tax payments based on the 10% increase will be taken off the bill for the rest of the year."

If the council tax is frozen, how will I know what my council tax payments are?

"We will issue new council tax bills setting out the new cost, adjusted to include the freeze, any overpayments made, as well as any exemptions or discounts."

What do residents need to do now?

"Please make council tax payments as set out in your council tax bill – as mentioned, council tax is vital in helping to save the services that matter to people.

"If the council freezes the council tax, we will contact you directly with information about your new bill."

Will the council also be reviewing the decision to charge double council tax for second homes?

"No. This additional funding does not relate to that decision."

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The increase was backed by councillors at Argyll and Bute Council’s annual budget meeting on Thursday, February 22 – despite First Minister Humza Yousaf’s promises that bills would be frozen across Scotland.

The rise also went against the recommendation of the council's finance chief - who suggested a rise of just over six per cent.

An alternative budget was put forward by councillors from the SNP, Labour, the Greens and opposition independents, which would have seen council tax frozen.

But the budget proposed by the council's ruling group of Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and other independents, including the 10 per cent increase, won the day by 18 votes to 16.