Dunfermline MSP Welcomes Council Tax Freeze

For the fifth year in a row, Fife Council has accepted an offer by the Scottish Government to enable Council Tax to remain frozen.

As part of the package, which will see local authorities receiving a larger share of Scottish Government funds than in 2007-08, Fife Council has also agreed to maintain teaching and police numbers. The funding offer has been accepted unanimously across all of Scotland’s 32 local authorities.

Bill Walker, MSP for Dunfermline, said: “We may not be able to control UK taxation, but we can give people the best deal on their Council Tax, until such times as a fairer income-based system of taxation is in place.

“This measure will see householders in Dunfermline saving over £500 since the freeze began. I’m sure this will be a welcome relief to hard-pressed families during these times of austerity brought about by successive Labour and Conservative UK administrations.”

John Swinney, the Scottish Government’s Finance Secretary, said: “Like the Scottish Government, Councils face a number of competing pressures on their budgets, so I am delighted the package I offered to local authorities has been accepted in principle.”