Eastwood MSP Jackson Carlaw has slammed proposals to increase council tax for households in East Renfrewshire as an “outrageous” and “punitive attack” on residents.

The Scottish Government has announced a joint consultation with COSLA (the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) seeking views on plans to increase the amount paid by people in the highest bands - E, F, G and H.

The plans would result in council tax rising by 7.5 percent for those in band E, 12.5 percent for band F and 17.5 percent for band G.

Council tax for people in a house categorised as band H, meanwhile, would increase by almost a quarter at a rate of 22.5 percent.

The Scottish Conservative politician said: “The proposals brought forward by the SNP-Green Government to significantly increase council tax rates for bands E-H in a global cost of living crisis are simply outrageous.

“It represents a punitive attack on hard-working people in Eastwood for whom council tax has already risen by eye-watering levels over the previous six years and simply to offset steep Scottish Government cuts to core local authority funding.

“Residents are already paying considerably more in council tax but for fewer local services and it is a wholly unacceptable situation.

“The SNP-Green Government proposals for such a large increase is a hammer blow for many people living in Eastwood.

“The planned hike in council tax must be abandoned by Ministers.”

The average annual council tax charges for the four highest bands in East Renfrewshire during the current 2023/24 financial year stand at £1859.44 for E, £2299.73 for F, £2771.47 for G and £3467.29 for H.

Mr Carlaw says that if implemented, it has been calculated that the Scottish Government plans would see typical annual council tax bills for homeowners in the local authority with a band E property increase by £139.46 to £1998.90 and by £287.47 to £2587.20 for band F properties.

Households in band G, meanwhile, would be expected to pay an additional £485.01 per year to make the total £3256.48 and council tax for band H would increase to £4247.43, representing a rise of £780.14.

The consultation will run for ten weeks until September 20 and any changes would come into effect at the start of the 2024/25 financial year.

Public Finance Minister Tom Arthur said: “We have listened to calls for the council tax system to be made fairer, as presently more of the burden falls on those in the lower bands when considered as a proportion of the value of their property.

“The changes would only affect around a quarter of properties and even after they are taken into account, average council tax in Scotland would still be less than anywhere else in the UK.

“We know that many people are struggling with their finances and our Council Tax Reduction scheme is there to ensure nobody has to pay a Council Tax bill they cannot be expected to afford, regardless of what band they are in.

“I would encourage anyone who has views on these proposals to complete our consultation before it closes on September 20, 2023, to help us determine if they should be taken forward.”

Councillor Katie Hagmann, COSLA resources spokesperson, added: “For many years there have been calls to make the council tax system fairer.

"We are pleased to be working jointly with the Scottish Government to explore ways that we can achieve this.

"A fairer and more progressive council tax is what the proposals in this consultation aim to do.

“This is a consultation about ways to make council tax more proportionate for everyone, so that householders pay their fair share towards the delivery of essential local services, including looking at those higher value properties.

"We want to hear from individuals, households, and communities to inform any redesign of this local tax, so would encourage people to respond during the 10 week consultation period.

“If you have a view on council tax, this joint consultation with Scottish Government gives you the chance to share your views and gives us a chance to make Council Tax fairer.”

The consultation is live until Wednesday, September 20 and people can comment on the plans at https://consult.gov.scot/local-government-and-communities/consultation-on-a-fairer-council-tax/.