Council tax rises in Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire and North Lanarkshire

Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire and North Lanarkshire councils have agreed next year's budgets, with both regions increasing council tax.

The figure will rise by 7.5% in Renfrewshire and by 6.9% in East Ayrshire - which is the lowest increase across Ayrshire.

North Lanarkshire has agreed to a 7% rise.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, North Ayrshire Council announced a council tax rise of 8.5% for the next financial year.

It had originally proposed a 12% increase - which would have been four times the rate of inflation - but the SNP administration agreed to the new rate suggested by Labour.

North Ayrshire's budget also includes a £4m investment in roads.

Renfrewshire Council's budget includes a £2.1m investment to complete a long-running project to refurbish or replace every play park in the region.

It will also devote cash to an existing £50 winter school clothing payment to eligible children and will replace a mobile library.

East Ayrshire's council tax increase, which was originally proposed at 8%, brings a Band D property rate to £1,717.28.

The council highlighted that its health and social care partnership was under "significant financial pressures" as it allocated an extra £4.5m to those services.

North Lanarkshire said a 2% share of its council tax increase was allocated its Community Investment Fund to support infrastructure improvements, including roads, housing and town centre regeneration.

It said the remaining 5% would protect the delivery of council services.

Most households in North Lanarkshire are in bands A and B.

For band A the annual council tax will be £1,036.37 and £1,209.10 for band B.

Nine Scottish councils announced their 2026-27 budgets on Thursday, with various agreed earlier this week.

Aberdeenshire and Moray councils have so far agreed the highest rise in council tax at 10%.

Scottish Water announced in January that water and sewer rates would go up from this April, with household bills to increase by 8.67%.

Earlier this year, the Scottish government also announced two new council tax bands are set to be added from April 2028 – band I for homes valued between £1m and £2m, and band J for properties above £2m.

Council tax makes up a relatively small proportion of each council's budget but it is the area where the council has the most control.