Tax point missed

In continuing his attack on the local council (Letters, 4 ­November), Ian Murray has missed the main point that I 
was ­making about the council tax.

When the councils signed the concordat in 2007, they had to agree not to criticise the Scottish Government in any way.

They were conned into thinking they would receive ongoing compensation for not increasing the council tax. The 32 councils shared the £70 million in that first year.

That loss has continued every year since then but they are still receiving compensation only for the first year.

That is why the ­cumulative loss to the councils over the seven years has been more than £1.5 billion.

The councils find themselves between a rock and a hard place. If they challenge how they were conned, the Scottish Government will take away even the miserly compensation they get at 
present.

Finally, has Mr Murray taken up the invitation of Edinburgh City Council to comment on its draft budget for next year?

If he did, he would discover why the changes in bin collections are being made.

I only wish the Scottish Government would issue its draft budget five months ahead to
give us the opportunity to 
challenge some of its spending and how it is extending its central control.

Henry L Philip

Grange Loan

Edinburgh