The leader of the Labour group in Renfrewshire has blasted a 9.5% Council Tax rise and claimed residents are paying for ‘huge blunders’ by the current administration.
Councillor Iain McMillan said in a video statement, released by the local Labour group, that it’s raise was due to having to pay £60m for a new school in Dargavel, Bishopton and hundreds of thousands of pounds spent on cycle lanes that the councillor said ‘no one actually wanted.’
Cllr McMIllan, who represents the Johnstone South and Elderslie Ward, said “At Renfrewshire Council’s budget meeting, the SNP-led council decided to put your council tax up by 9.5%.
“As far as we know that is the highest ever increase in Council Tax here in Renfrewshire.
“You are now paying for incompetence of the SNP-led council where they have made huge blunders over education.”
Mr McMillan continued: “We are now paying over £60 million to build a [second] Dargavel school.
“We have also paid hundreds of thousands of pounds over cycle lanes which no one ever actually wanted.
“So in Renfrewshire, you are now paying more, and receiving less.”
The leader of the Conservatives in Renfrewshire has said they could not support the this years budget “proposals that hammered hard-pressed residents with further huge hikes in their council tax”.
He confirmed that he, and colleagues, are committed to keeping council tax as low as possible.
Renfrewshire Conservative group leader Councillor Neill Graham said: “We simply could not support any budget proposals that hammered hard-pressed residents with further huge hikes in their council tax.
“We accept that years of savage cuts from the SNP government in Edinburgh have left Renfrewshire Council in an impossible position, but local people should not bear the brunt of those decisions.
“My colleagues and I are committed to keeping council tax as low as possible and both the SNP and Labour proposals flew in the face of that.
“Local people are sick and tired of paying more but getting less in return on the SNP’s watch.”
He added: “I am proud Renfrewshire Conservative councillors took this decision today and we will continue to fight for our area to finally be given the resources they need to protect local services, and deliver the best value for council taxpayers.”
Headline image: (left to right) Cllr Iain McMillan – leader of the Scottish Labour Group in Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire Conservative group leader Councillor Neill Graham
Photo Credit: Cllr McMillan / Renfrewshire Council