AFTER a huge row over council tax rises that saw Argyll and Bute Council's ruling administration deposed last week, one of the first things those who are now in power will be asked to do is...agree to raise council tax.

Following the drama of last Thursday when control of the council changed hands after two cuts of the cards, another special meeting will be held this Monday, April 15, when councillors will be asked to reverse the decision in February to hike council tax rates by 10 per cent.

And while that's expected to be rubber-stamped, the same meeting will be asked to approve, at least in principle, a council tax rise of at least 7 per cent for the 2025-26 financial year.

The huge tax rise voted through in February led directly to opposition councillors calling a special meeting on April 4 - at which the ruling TALIG administration of Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Independents lost control on a cut of the cards.

The new ruling coalition, dominated by the SNP but also including Labour, Green and some independent councillors, will be in power for the April 15 meeting.

The same report reveals that scrapping the tax increase approved in February, and in particular re-calculating what households will have to pay and re-issuing revised bills,will cost the authority £80,000.

The report, prepared by executive director Kirsty Flanagan ahead of the April 15 meeting, sets out the extra funding the council will receive which is conditional on freezing council tax.

If tax rates are frozen as expected, Argyll and Bute will get a £2.86m share of funding being provided to councils across the country by the Scottish Government which is equivalent to a 5 per cent council tax increase.

A further £62.7m was provided by the Scottish Government following lobbying by local government body COSLA in February, and Argyll and Bute’s share of that is £1.1m – again contingent on a council tax freeze.

In addition, Argyll and Bute is set to receive an extra £2.3m on top of money already provided to help tackle the extreme weather that hit large parts of the area in October last year.

Ms Flanagan states: “In order that any reversal of the previously agreed council tax increase does not affect future years budget gaps, it is recommended that council agree, in principle, to a council tax increase of at least 7 per cent in 2025-26.

“The re-running of the council tax annual billing is estimated to cost up to £80,000.

“Any change to the level of council tax will not alter the previous council decision made in November 2023 in respect of the double charge on second homes. 

“Officers have already received in excess 700 representations and as such it may be prudent to adjust the anticipated income levels, closely monitor the position and report back to members later in the financial year.”