Latest news with #Cosla
The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
No changes to council tax 'in this decade', says Scottish Government
Ministers won't undertake a 'revaluation' of Council Tax as there is not a 'broad political consensus' in favour of one, a spokesperson for the government said. It comes after Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee told BBC Scotland that a revaluation of council tax bands in Scotland was 'absolutely needed'. McKee said plans were being worked on but there would be 'winners and losers'. READ MORE: YouGov poll predicts result in every Scottish seat – see the full map Currently, council tax bands are based on property values from 1991, but since then house prices have surged. Revaluation could see some homes put into more expensive bands, while others would see cuts in council tax bills. However, the Scottish Government poured cold water on any imminent changes, and said its talks with Cosla, the local government body, were intended to 'inform public debate'. McKee told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that it was important to get 'political consensus' in Holyrood. 'There's absolutely a need for revaluation, and plans for that are being worked on just now,' he said. "That creates a lot of issues if people are changing the value of their property significantly in a very short period of time. "That's going to impact how you do the transition." Following the interview, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'We will not undertake a Council Tax revaluation. 'Ministers believe any suggestion of a revaluation could only proceed if a broad political consensus in favour existed. READ MORE: Patrick Harvie and Angus Robertson face-off over Israel divestment 'They do not believe that consensus currently exists. 'Any changes to Council Tax must also be informed by robust evidence and wide public consultation. 'Our joint programme of engagement with Cosla on options for reform is intended to inform that public debate. 'This process will run for a number of years. Ministers believe any plan for substantial reform thereafter, including any suggestion of revaluation, would require a mandate from a Scottish Parliament Election and that this will not be possible this decade.' We previously told how analysis carried out by the Commission on Local Tax Reform suggested that over half of all properties in Scotland would have changed band if there had been a revaluation in 2014. And, a budding MSP has drawn up draft legislation for replacing council tax and allowing local authorities to replace it with a property tax based on the real market value of homes.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Scottish council tax revaluation needed, says minister Ivan McKee
Every home in Scotland could have a revaluation of its value, to see if it still fits the council tax banding it has been in for as long as 34 years. Todays council tax valuations are based on property prices of 1991, when the average amount was about a quarter of its current finance minister Ivan McKee told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that there was "absolutely a need for revaluation" and there would "be winners and losers".Re-valuation would put some homes into more expensive bands, while others could see cuts in council tax bills. Replacing the council tax has long been an SNP ambition. The party's 2007 manifesto said the "unfair" tax should be scrapped for a local income 2014, former first minister Nicola Sturgeon set up a commission to look at alternatives. The Scottish government has held ongoing talks for years with local government body Cosla, but revaluation had been seen as too politically painful to impose. McKee said it was "important to get a political consensus" at Holyrood. The public finance minister said: "There's absolutely a need for revaluation, and plans for that are being worked on just now. "That creates a lot of issues if people are changing the value of their property significantly in a very short period of time. "That's going to impact how you do the transition." McKee said ministers were working on the details of revaluation with added: "The really important thing is that there is a consensus on this and we move forward in a way that everybody's signed up to."Something that's a more effective system."The reality of that is that there will be winners and losers, and that's really important to recognise." Council tax is based on the estimated value of your home 34 years ago. The catch is that people's homes have changed in value relative to each other. Some neighbourhoods have seen prices rise much more steeply than others – for instance those that used to be more down-at-heel but now attract buyers from far and wide. It's sometimes called "gentrification".Where house prices have risen fastest, homes are likely to see a move up council bandings, so bills will go up. Where home valuations have not risen as steeply as the average, they could move down council bands. How much difference could this make? Unlike Scotland and England, Wales had a council tax revaluation in 2003. One in three homes moved up a band, and one in 12 homes moved down. Some moved by two bands. The experience was a painful one for the Welsh government, and it's avoided a further revaluation in the past 20 Ivan McKee says, we have to recognise there will be winners and losers. But those who win tend to give ministers less thanks than the grief they get from the people that lose out. McKee's comments came after the Scottish Fiscal Commission published an update to its economic forecasts on the documents published was a "meaningful and long-term" reform of council financial sustainability plan was made up of three areas;public spendingeconomic growthand taxationThe Scottish Government said it aims to reduce the public sector workforce by 0.5% each year for the rest of the Secretary Shona Robison said taking no action would result in a £4.7bn budget black hole by left untreated, Robison told MSPs the gap between funding and day-to-day spending would top £2.6bn, while the capital deficit would grow to £ strategy was published in the final week of the Scottish Parliament's 2024/25 return to Holyrood in September, nine months out from the parliament's election on 7 May, 2026
Daily Record
16-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
North and South Lanarkshire Council staff to be balloted after unions received two-year pay offer
Local government trade union UNISON said the new offer is for four per cent this year and 3.5 per cent for next (2026/27). North and South Lanarkshire Council staff are to be balloted after unions received a two-year pay offer from local government employers Cosla. Local government trade union UNISON said the new offer is for four per cent this year and 3.5 per cent for next (2026/27). UNISON's local government committee has met to discuss the offer and has decided to recommend to members that they vote to accept. UNISON Scotland head of local government, David O'Connor said: 'The threat of possible strikes by council employees has forced Cosla back to the table. 'But it should not have taken the possibility of staff walkouts closing services to get Cosla and the Scottish government to listen to the workforce. 'Local authority workers were due a pay rise in April. Despite the delay, this is a sensible offer. 'The union will be putting the new amount to council staff over next few weeks, recommending that they accept.'
Rhyl Journal
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Council workers to be balloted on new pay offer amid threat of strikes
Unison Scotland said Cosla has offered local government workers 4% this year and 3.5% next year. The union said it will recommend staff accept the offer. Unison, which represents 80,000 workers across Scotland's 32 councils, began balloting members on strike action last month after local authority staff were offered a 3% pay rise. The union said the ballot amounted to the biggest vote of its kind in years and was held after 92% of members indicated they would support industrial action. Unison Scotland's head of local government, David O'Connor, said: 'The threat of possible strikes by council employees has forced Cosla back to the table. 'But it should not have taken the possibility of staff walkouts closing services to get Cosla and the Scottish Government to listen to the workforce. 'Local authority workers were due a pay rise in April. Despite the delay, this is a sensible offer. 'The union will be putting the new amount to council staff over next few weeks, recommending that they accept.' Cosla has been approached for comment.
South Wales Guardian
13-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Council workers to be balloted on new pay offer amid threat of strikes
Unison Scotland said Cosla has offered local government workers 4% this year and 3.5% next year. The union said it will recommend staff accept the offer. Unison, which represents 80,000 workers across Scotland's 32 councils, began balloting members on strike action last month after local authority staff were offered a 3% pay rise. The union said the ballot amounted to the biggest vote of its kind in years and was held after 92% of members indicated they would support industrial action. Unison Scotland's head of local government, David O'Connor, said: 'The threat of possible strikes by council employees has forced Cosla back to the table. 'But it should not have taken the possibility of staff walkouts closing services to get Cosla and the Scottish Government to listen to the workforce. 'Local authority workers were due a pay rise in April. Despite the delay, this is a sensible offer. 'The union will be putting the new amount to council staff over next few weeks, recommending that they accept.' Cosla has been approached for comment.
