Council tax to rise by 8.5% in Dumfries and Galloway

Council tax in Dumfries and Galloway will rise by 8.5% from April, after the SNP administration failed to get its budget passed.

They had proposed a 7.5% increase in council tax but they lost by one vote, with the Labour group's plan approved instead.

It will see the annual rate for the average band D property rise from £1,454.98 to £1,578.65 - an increase of £123.67.

The number of high school teachers will be reduced in line with falling pupil numbers and there will be a consultation on closing smaller nurseries.

A permanent pool of supply teachers will also be removed, and funding to the Citizens Advice Service will be cut by 20%.

There will be a similar cut to the funding allocated to the third sector and to major events in the region.

And there will be an increase in fees and charges for council services such as leisure and sports facilities, licensing and waste services.

It comes after Dumfries and Galloway Council reported an estimated funding gap of £34.8m over the next three financial years.

Inflation, nationally-negotiated pay awards, rising demand for services like social care and a forecast real-terms reduction in funding were blamed.

Councillors had four separate budgets to discuss at the meeting of the full council on Thursday.

The Conservatives proposed increasing the council tax rate by 6.5% while the Novantae group wanted an increase of 9.8%.

Labour's plans were passed by 16 votes to 15. The Conservatives abstained from the vote.

The council said it would make investments in areas identified as a priority during public consultations:

• An extra £5.32m to support a commitment to adult social care workers receiving the real living wage (£13.45/hr)
• Investing £928,000 to "bolster support for residents most impacted by the cost-of-living crisis"
• Additional funding of £916,000 for local priorities including reinstating bins in lay-bys outwith 30mph limit
• Funding for projects including the Newton Stewart flood protection scheme, and the Dumfries Academy/ Loreburn Primary school campus project.

Council convenor Katie Hagmann, said: "Increasing council tax by 8.5% was not a decision taken lightly.

"However, councillors decided that this increase – alongside required savings – is necessary to maintain the essential services and support our council provides, across Dumfries and Galloway, all while keeping our finances on a sustainable footing."

Last year the local authority increased its charges by 9%.

Neighbouring Scottish Borders Council agreed to increase its council tax by 8.5% last week.