COUNCILLORS have exchanged words on the 9.7 per cent council tax rise implemented by the 2026/27 budget in Argyll and Bute.
The former leader of the authority’s Conservative group noted that its administration partnership – made up of SNP, Liberal Democrat, Labour, Green and some independent councillors – has increased council tax by almost 20 per cent in two years.
The council’s depute leader hit back, saying that the opposition’s proposed budget was “kicking the can down the road” with budget gaps in years to come.
The discussion took place at a full council meeting where the budget was decided on Wednesday, February 25.
Council leader Jim Lynch (SNP, Oban South and the Isles) had earlier stated while presenting the budget motion that some elements of the budget would not have been possible without the council tax increase.
He also said that planning for the 2027/28 budget-setting process would start on the day following the meeting.
Councillor Gary Mulvaney (Conservative, Helensburgh Central) then said: “On the statement that it was not possible to increase the money to the HSCP (health and social care partnership) without such a council tax increase, I would respectfully disagree.
“The Conservative budget does that, and actually funds the HSCP more than what is in the administration budget.
“The leader spoke of the cost of living crisis, and yes we do have that. But he seemed to completely miss out the point that we have a council tax rise of 9.7 per cent when we have inflation of three per cent.
“This is the second budget from the SNP, Labour and Liberal Democrat partnership, and we have now seen council tax go up by nearly 20 per cent.
“Everybody in Argyll and Bute will feel the pain of this, and for my constituents, who contribute more in council tax than any other area, and have more high-banded properties than any other area, they will feel it as much as anybody.
“I am not speaking about the wealthy, I am speaking about families and others struggling with the cost of living crisis.
“To me it is pretty clear that the SNP, and their friends in the Liberal Democrats, Labour and Greens, stand for higher tax and lower services.
“Councillor Lynch said that next year’s budget starts tomorrow, and that should send a shiver down the spine of every taxpayer in Argyll and Bute.
“It was near 10 per cent last year, and this year, so what on earth are we going to see next year?”
Councillor Ross Moreland (Liberal Democrat, Dunoon) responded: “I started my speech by saying that council tax would dominate the headlines and we do not shy away from that.
“£2million less into roads over the next two years, no provision for storm costs, no climate change fund – that is just under £13m of capital investment not in the opposition’s budget over the next two years.
“As Councillor Mulvaney quite rightly points out, there is a lower council tax figure in the opposition budget, but there is a significantly higher budget gap next year.
“It is £14m, compared to £10m, and that is kicking the can down the road. The responsible and reasonable thing to do is to provide £13m more investment into our communities.
“It is dealing with a £10m gap, and adding another £4m on is not the right thing to do. It is like a car salesman telling you nothing upfront and the payments come later.”
