Warning as council tax consultation carried out

Proposed reforms to Scotland's council tax system could lead to "unsustainable" increases for many East Renfrewshire residents, the local authority has warned.

- DREW SANDELANDS, LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER

A Scottish Government consultation is underway on the future of council tax across the country and possible options for reform.

Officials at East Renfrewshire Council have produced a response which supports reform, and updated property values, but adds the changes would have "a more significant impact on residents...than in other parts of Scotland, as there are more properties locally in higher bandings".

They stated: “It is very difficult to support any system where local taxation does not lead to local benefit.”

Council tax raises 20 per cent (£73.5 million) of East Renfrewshire Council's funding, with the majority of cash provided through a grant from the Scottish Government.

The consultation has been launched to look at how the council tax system “could be made fairer and more up to date”.

Current charges are based on property values from 1991.

Proposals included revaluing homes and adding extra council tax bands. In East Renfrewshire, property values have grown by 369 per cent since 1991, with the average value at £330,000-above the national average of £211,000.