SNP MSP welcomes council tax freeze

News Release
Immediate Release

14/02/08

Commenting on the budget decision made today by Orkney Islands Council Rob Gibson MSP for Highlands and Islands said:

"The decision by the Council to freeze Council Tax at current levels is extremely welcome. After large increases in Council Tax under a Labour/LibDem Scottish Executive the people of Orkney were long overdue for a financial break.

"That has only been possible through the SNP Scottish Government's determination to make finances available to local authorities to implement a Council Tax Freeze."

Rob continued:

"When I was re-elected last year a key promise of the SNP was to freeze council tax. In Orkney and throughout Scotland that has been possible and this decision today makes good my personal promise on this issue last May.

"We have a historic agreement between the Scottish Government and local authorities that gives Council's like Orkney much more freedom to deliver local priorities as well as gives council tax payers a real terms cut by stopping even an inflationary rise."

ENDS