Issued:13 February 2002
Low Council Tax Position Will Be Maintained
Council leader Rob Murray is confident that despite a predicted £4.2m shortfall in the council’s budget Angus is likely to retain one of the lowest levels of council tax in the country.
Speaking in advance of the special meeting of the council (Thursday 14 February) to set the 2002/03 council tax Councillor Murray said the council was doing everything in its power to keep the level of council tax as low as is possible.
“Last year Angus had the third lowest council tax of Scotland’s mainland authorities. We have managed to maintain this position over the years while at the same time providing quality, cost-effective services for the people of Angus.
“Independent reports have consistently commended the council’s performance and practice but that doesn’t lessen the impact year on year cuts have had on services and the Angus economy,” said Councillor Murray.
“Cumulatively since 1996 successive governments have taken a staggering £140m (see attached table) of spending power out of the Angus Council budget - that’s £140m that this council would have invested in services, facilities and developments needed by the people of Angus.
“The underfunding of local government has been and continues to be the main issue and the public need to be aware that this underfunding is and will continue to be the only reason for increases in council tax.
Councillor Murray went on to say:
“The Executive’s claims of substantial increases for councils just don’t stand up to scrutiny.
“In Angus this year we are facing increased costs of over £6.3m and the government has provided only £2.1m to address this shortfall. The council now has to consider cuts of around £1.7m from already hard pressed service budgets and an inevitable increase in council tax.
“Not that the Scottish Executive seems to have a problem with passing on burdens to council taxpayers.
“This week the Health Minister is asking councils to find £3m for care home fees this year alone, the recently introduced Aggregates Tax adds £200,000 to Angus Council’s bill and thanks to the government’s inactivity £100,000 has to be found for the safe disposal of fridges and freezers.
“Councils are also having to deal with the longer term effects of underfunding and the deterioration of the roads network is a direct result of that and a concern we share with the council tax payer.
“All of this money has to come from somewhere and unless more funding is provided by the Executive the council tax payers of Scotland will have to keep footing the bill.”
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Analysis of Angus Council Cumulative Revenue Budget Cuts 1996/97 - 2002/03
| 1996/97 £’000 |
1997/98 £’000 |
1998/99 £’000 |
1999/00 £’000 |
2000/01 £’000 |
2001/02 £’000 |
2002/03 £’000 |
Cumulative Total | |
| 1996/97 | 9,288 | 9,288 | 9,288 | 9,288 | 9,288 | 9,288 | 9,288 | 65,016 |
| 1997/98 | 6,472 | 6,472 | 6,472 | 6,472 | 6,472 | 6,472 | 38,832 | |
| 1998/99 | 3,394 | 3,394 | 3,394 | 3,394 | 3,394 | 16,970 | ||
| 1999/00 | 2,198 | 2,198 | 2,198 | 2,198 | 8,792 | |||
| 2000/01 | 2,149 | 2,149 | 2,149 | 6,447 | ||||
| 2001/02 | 1,082 | 1,082 | 2,164 | |||||
| 2002/03 | 1,805 | 1,805 | ||||||
| Cumulative Total | 9,288 | 15,760 | 19,154 | 21,352 | 23,501 | 24,583 | 26,388 | 140,026 |