Tax Scotland: Debate calling for council tax hike proposals to be scrapped to be heard at Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Government has been considering proposals to hike council tax by up to 22.5 per cent for those in the most expensive houses

​A Holyrood debate will urge ministers to scrap plans which could see council tax hikes of up to 22.5 per cent in some households.

Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesman Willie Rennie is set to condemn the proposed sliding scale increases of 7.5 per cent to 22.5 per cent for properties on tax band E or higher.

It comes as a consultation by the Scottish Government and Cosla – the local council governing body – on the plans concludes on Wednesday.

The Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood in Edinburgh. Picture: PA

Analysis by the Liberal Democrats suggests 28 per cent of households are set for an additional tax increase on top of any yearly increases, with 715,312 families seeing a hike ranging from £124 to £835, if the plans go ahead.

The rate of the increase could depend on the higher tax band, with those in band E seeing the lowest increases of between £124 to £150. It is thought 354,197 households could be affected.

Meanwhile, 14,032 households in the highest H band could see increases of around £694 and £835. The proposals could raise more than £170 million for local authorities, if passed, it is understood.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday's debate, Mr Rennie said the Scottish Government's initial plans to abolish council tax with a fairer system has been abandoned in favour of increases.

He said: "It's 16 years since the SNP solemnly promised in their manifesto to abolish and replace council tax. But after 16 years of consultations, working groups, of cross-party talks, think tanks and rhetoric, the SNP Government have transformed from reformers to defenders of the unfair, discredited council tax.

"Now they are hiking it with the biggest rises ever, in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.”