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Holyrood committee to vote on council tax rise plans Holyrood committee backs rise in council tax for top bands
(about 11 hours later)
Holyrood's local government committee is to vote on proposals to increase council tax for the four highest bands. Holyrood's local government committee has backed plans to raise the council tax for the four highest bands.
The government wants some households to pay more to raise money for education, and finance secretary Derek Mackay is to give evidence to the committee backing the plan. The government wants some households to pay more to raise money for education, and finance secretary Derek Mackay gave evidence to committee backing the plan.
Opposition members have spoken out against government council tax plans. The committee formally recommended the scheme to parliament after members voted four to two in favour of it.
The committee will vote on whether to recommend the move to parliament - but one member has lodged an amendment. Members also rejected an amendment from Green MSP Andy Wightman noting "concerns" about wider local tax plans.
The plans would see the average band E household pay about £2 per week more, and the average household in the highest band about £10 a week more. The proposals would see the average band E household pay about £2 per week more, and the average household in the highest band (H) about £10 a week more.
Parliament has to pass an order, a piece of secondary legislation, to change the bands, and Mr Mackay has put forward a motion asking the committee to recommend it to MSPs. Parliament has to pass an order, a piece of secondary legislation, to change the bands, and Mr Mackay has now won the formal backing of the committee for that. Members will submit a report to parliament, before the order is voted on by all MSPs at a later date.
However, Green member Andy Wightman has lodged an amendment to the finance secretary's motion. This accepts the band changes, but "notes concerns" about the fact the council tax base has not been updated since 1991 and recognises the recommendation of the Commission on Local Tax Reform that "the present council tax system must end". The average annual increase in council tax as a result of the band adjustments would be:
Mr Wightman is backed by Labour's Elaine Smith, meaning he only needs the support of the two Tory MSPs on the committee to defeat the three SNP members. Putting forward a motion to have the committee recommend the move to parliament, Mr Mackay told its members that his plans would lead to a "more progressive" and "fairer" system of local taxation.
The order - whether amended, recommended or neither - will be voted on by all MSPs either as a parliamentary bureau motion or a government motion at a later date. Mr Wightman lodged an amendment to the finance secretary's motion to "note concerns" about the fact the council tax base has not been updated since 1991 and recognising the recommendation of the Commission on Local Tax Reform that "the present council tax system must end".
Labour's Elaine Smith backed Mr Wightman, saying the committee should "reflect the evidence" heard from members.
But SNP and Conservative members united against the amendment, with Tory Graham Simpson saying there "isn't much point" to adding it to the debate.
Mr Simpson also opposed Mr Mackay's original motion, saying it represented a "fundamental change" to the way local services are funded, and undermined local accountability.
The motion ultimately passed by four votes to two, with Ms Smith joining the three SNP members and Mr Wightman abstaining.
The committee will now compile a report on the issue for parliament, while it will be down to the parliamentary bureau to decide if there needs to be a further chamber debate on the issue as well as a vote.
The government was only saved from a chamber defeat over council tax in September when Labour leader Kezia Dugdale's vote failed to register.The government was only saved from a chamber defeat over council tax in September when Labour leader Kezia Dugdale's vote failed to register.
Opposition members had successfully amended a government motion promoting its council tax reform strategy, changing the wording to condemn government strategy as undermining local accountability. But the final vote on the amended motion was tied after Ms Dugdale's vote was not counted. Opposition members had successfully amended a government motion promoting its council tax reform strategy, changing the wording to condemn the approach as undermining local accountability. But the final vote on the amended motion was tied after Ms Dugdale's vote was not counted.
Analysis by BBC Scotland political reporter Philip Sim Revaluation 'costly'
Opposition parties are broadly opposed to the government's council tax plans - but beyond that they are pulling in rather different directions. The Greens and the Tories in particular have very different priorities when it comes to taxation. Mr Wightman had also called for a revaluation of council tax bands during the committee debate, pointing out that the current bands were based on property values dating back to 1991.
So there are three potential outcomes at today's committee meeting. The Green MSP said he had a constituent whose flat was in band E, but was worth £20,000 less than neighbouring flats in band B.
If Tory members band together with Mr Wightman and Ms Smith, then they could successfully amend Derek Mackay's motion, effectively adding in some lines ticking off the government - and could then pass it, with a 4-3 majority over the SNP members. Labour's Elaine Smith pointed out that some council tax payers weren't even born when the council tax values of their properties were determined.
If the Tories do not back the amendment, the four opposition MSPs might ultimately reject the (unamended) motion - meaning they do not recommend the order to parliament. Mr Mackay said a "costly" revaluation would "take time" and could be a "shock" to many households - with some potentially facing "astronomically high" tax increases under a full revaluation.
Either way, this could set up a confrontation when the motion comes to be voted on in the Holyrood chamber - if the amended motion makes it that far, the government might have to effectively endorse the wording of the amendment to get the order passed. But he said the changes to bands were "not the end of the story in terms of local tax [reform]", saying the government was taking a "balanced approach" while seeking to "make council tax more progressive".
Equally, if the committee does not recommend the order to parliament, there would be divisions in the chamber at the final vote - with the government needing to win over at least one opposition MSP to get its plans passed.
The third possibility is that the opposition parties fail to find common ground, either by not voting together or by abstaining.
In that case, the order could simply be recommended and eventually passed on through parliament, becoming law without too much fuss.
The Scottish government has started the process of reforming local taxation following on from the Commission on Local Tax Reform, which called for a fairer, more transparent and progressive tax to fund local services.The Scottish government has started the process of reforming local taxation following on from the Commission on Local Tax Reform, which called for a fairer, more transparent and progressive tax to fund local services.
Opposition members have accused the government of "tinkering" with the system, although Mr Mackay has hinted to MSPs that the changes to bands may just be a first step in further reforms. Opposition members have accused the government of "tinkering" with the system rather than making bold reforms.
He told a Holyrood debate: "We have embarked on a journey in local taxation. We want to make it more progressive, deliver the steps that we got support for at the elections, then engage further on what can be delivered next in view of the report."
The Scottish Conservatives support an end to the council tax freeze and increases to the top two bands, but oppose the changes to bands E and F.The Scottish Conservatives support an end to the council tax freeze and increases to the top two bands, but oppose the changes to bands E and F.
But Labour and the Greens both want to see the "hated" council tax scrapped, with Labour repeatedly accusing the SNP of abandoning an earlier promise to do so.But Labour and the Greens both want to see the "hated" council tax scrapped, with Labour repeatedly accusing the SNP of abandoning an earlier promise to do so.
Mr Wightman has spoken of a "progressive majority" at Holyrood seeking a revaluation of properties, with the current system based on values dating back to 1991 - leaving many properties potentially in the wrong band.