COUNCIL taxpayers in Argyll and Bute face a 9.9 per cent increase to their bills in the 2025/26 financial year after a decision by the authority.
A budget proposal by the council’s ruling group of SNP, Liberal Democrat, Labour, Green and some independent councillors was passed at the annual budget-setting meeting this morning.
The Argyll and the Islands Group (TALIG), consisting of Conservative and some other independent councillors, submitted the only amendment, which was defeated in a roll call vote. It proposed a five per cent council tax increase.
The decision means that a property in band D will now be subject to an annual council tax bill of £1,625.
The authority’s leader spoke of the investments made by the ruling group’s budget proposal, including an additional £8 million to support the area’s roads network.
There is also an additional £2.9m for severe weather related costs, and an additional £1.2m to the area’s health and social care partnership (HSCP).
The meeting, on Thursday, February 27, was the first budget-setting meeting held by the council since the ruling group gained control in April 2024.
Councillor Jim Lynch (SNP, Oban South and the Isles), the authority’s leader, said: “This has been a challenging budget to balance, and we have had to make some difficult decisions.
“We have faced up to those, and the question that has been foremost in our minds was that if we make tough decisions, what can we give back to local people? We have heard that roads are one of the most important priorities, and that is why we have increased the roads budget to £10m. We also hear from people how much they value health and social care. We also recognise that the HSCP must cope with challenges in rural and island areas. That is why we are providing an additional £1.2m to support the HSCP. This will help it to maintain services during financial challenges.”
He then said: “We have taken the difficult decision of raising council tax by 9.9 per cent. This was taken with much thought and after a lot of soul searching. But we have kept in mind how we are able to give back to communities. Seventy per cent of respondents [to the council’s budget survey] said they agreed or would consider agreeing to pay more for services that matter to them. We have kept council tax below 10 per cent [increase], unlike others who are making cuts.”
TALIG leader Councillor Gary Mulvaney (Conservative, Helensburgh Central) said: “We have just heard that after 12 years of preparation, challenges and straining to get into power, the headline of this is a shocking council tax increase that will have residents choking on their porridge in the morning. This is no ruse to get more money out of the Scottish Government; this is as real as it gets. Our group says that we do not accept the consensus. We believe there is another way and that council tax can be increased by five per cent – no higher. Our budget is a balanced and well-structured one and one I commend.”
A roll call vote saw the administration budget proposal win by 22 votes to 10 who voted for the TALIG proposal.
Councillors Jennifer Kelly and Tommy MacPherson (both Independent, South Kintyre) attended the meeting but registered no vote.
