Lothian chiefs debate freeze on council tax

Published on Friday 28 December 2007 09:28

TALKS have been held between senior councillors in East Lothian to discuss a freeze on council tax rates next year.

Last month, Finance Secretary John Swinney met leaders of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in a bid to reach agreement on a freeze, which was promised by the SNP during the elections in May.

City leader Jenny Dawe has already signalled that Edinburgh residents will escape a tax rise in 2008.

East Lothian councillor Paul McLennan, the council's environment spokesman, was today reported as saying: "There are still a number of issues to be sorted out and, at this moment in time, a freeze on council tax is by no means a fait accompli.

"But we are more than hopeful that a freeze will be introduced in East Lothian."

The new East Lothian Council budget will be set on February 12. If any local authority does choose to raise council tax, it will lose out on its share of a 70m compensation package.

East Lothian Labour councillor Norman Hampshire today reportedly said: "I just hope that by freezing council tax, we can protect the quality services we have here in East Lothian.

"My concern is that these services will suffer because of this.

"The way the budget is, it will be possible to protect services short-term, but if they try to freeze council tax over three years, our services will be hard to safeguard."