I was pleased to be re-appointed as the Deputy Leader of the COSLA Labour Group at our Annual General Meeting this morning. I was even more pleased when later in the morning all political groups within COSLA unanimously supported proposals for reform of the Council Tax to make it more progressive and for an immediate end to the regressive eight year Council Tax freeze.
Councillors from all parties - SNP, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives - came together with Independent Councillors to endorse COSLA's submission to the Scottish Government's Commission on Local Tax Reform. At the heart of this submission are proposals for the development of a modernised Council Tax as the basis for local tax reform in Scotland and the restoration of local democratic accountability through the abolition of the power of the Scottish Government to impose a Council Tax freeze on Councils.
It is time all political parties at Holyrood realised local Councillors are simply not prepared to toe the party line anymore. As they argue for greater financial controls and freedom from Westminster we are arguing exactly the same case for Scottish local government. We will no longer tolerate double standards.
The bidding war on who can freeze the Council Tax for the longest period must come to an end now!
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