Falkirk council tax to rise by 15.6%

The leader of Falkirk Council says a 15.6% rise in Council Tax is "disappointing" for people across the area.

The local authority has confirmed their budget, amid a £27.9 million funding gap.

It's the highest increase in Scotland.

The SNP's plans for a 13% rise were rejected, and the increase suggested by Labour and independent councillors was voted through.

Cecil Meiklejohn says the council is unhappy with the big rise in council tax:

“Burdening households with unnecessarily high Council tax increases, while failing to take decisions that would ease that burden is reckless.

“Heaping pressure on family and household budgets, that are already hard-pressed, when it is unnecessary to do so is not something we support.

“Falkirk has had a low council tax for many years, which we know needs to change, but not by over 15% in one fell swoop. With the pressure of the Labour UK government’s increase to employers National Insurance Contributions, the continued pressure of PFI costs, which last year equated to 19% of our total council tax, and the continued reluctance of opposition Councillors to take any pragmatic savings being put forward, has resulted in the deal struck by Labour and the “non-aligned” independent members today.

“This is a disappointing day for families and households across the Falkirk Council area.”