West Dunbartonshire Council tax expected to rise three per cent in budget meeting this week

Newly revised figures were posted in advance of the council meeting on Wednesday after the Scottish Greens secured an extra boost for the area from the Scottish Government.

But West Dunbartonshire is still projecting shortfalls in the budget in the years ahead and will be drawing on their reserves to avoid cuts in 2017/2018.

Band D properties will see their tax rise from £1,163 to £1,198, state council papers. Assuming a collection rate of 97.25 per cent, that will generate £43.486m. This includes a rise from Bands E-H rates increasing according to Scottish Government plans.

These figures exclude charges for water and sewerage which are set outwith the council. The current estimate for those on a Band D property is an extra £430.56, up from £423.90.

That means a West Dunbartonshire resident will pay £1,628.56 instead of £1,586.90 last year.

The 10 per cent discount from council tax on second homes will end come April, applying to just 74 homes in West Dunbartonshire and netting the authority an extra £13,000.

Council officers are also advising the future of non-domestic rates be considered later after a revaluation currently underway is finished. But it noted that, "it is very likely that rateable values in shopping centres and high streets are likely to fall, possibly significantly".

The projected funding gap for 2018/19 will now be £5.9m up from £5.3m, and to £9.4 million in 2019/20. If there are no savings found this year, those gaps will increase even more.

The Labour administration said they had continued to invest in the area even as central government had cut their funds.

Council leader Martin Rooney said: "Despite year-on-year cuts from the UK and Scottish Government, this Labour administration has continued to invest hundreds of millions of pounds in public infrastructure in order to improve our schools, care homes, housing, roads and public buildings.

"We have successfully secured significant additional external investment and have invested more in our communities than all previous West Dunbartonshire administrations put together.

"As a council we have also invested in services for our residents in terms of jobs, apprenticeships and training and in our early years, primary and secondary schools, in order to support our citizens so that they can maximise their potential.

"Our massive investment in regeneration initiatives will help to transform our area and create job opportunities for the future. This budget will continue our focus on growing our economy, investing in people, communities and infrastructure to ensure a positive future for West Dunbartonshire and its people."

The SNP said they are still awaiting more information from officers before they put forward an alternative budget.

Group leader Councillor Jonathan McColl said: "The SNP are still working on our budget plans and we won’t be in a position to confirm our proposals in advance of the meeting. I’m still waiting for detailed information from council officers about the potential impact on jobs and services of the cuts that Labour confirmed they would be taking at the December council meeting.

“Even before the extra £2.3 million from the Scottish Government for West Dunbartonshire’s budget was announced, there was no need for the administration to be proposing service cuts. If they do, it will be a clear political choice and one that our constituents will remember when they go to the ballot box in May.”

PROJECTED NEW COUNCIL TAX RATES (Not including water and sewerage charges)

A* - £665.49 (up from £646.11)

B - £798.59 (up from £775.33)

C - £932.70 (up from £904.56)

D - £1,198.00 (up from £1,163.00)

E** - £1,464.08 (up from £1,421.44)

F** - £1,730.29 (up from £1,679.89)

G** - £1,996.48 (up from £1,938.33)

H** - £2,395.78 (up from £2,326.00)

* - Band A property entitled to the Disabled Banding Reduction

** - Bands E-H are having rates increased by the Scottish Government as well. New figures not yet available.