Adobe StockCouncil tax will be raised by 8% for Dundee residents as the local authority’s budget for the next financial year is approved.
The SNP administration’s budget proposals were voted through at a meeting held on Thursday.
It means a council tax hike of 8% for those living in the city. This equates to a £119 increase for those in Band D.
The Labour group had put forward a council tax increase of 5%, whereas the Liberal Democrat group proposed 4.94%.
The approved increase will come into effect from April 1.
Proposals to cut the frequency of bin collections and close school pools were not included in the SNP budget.
Council cuts approved
The approved budget will result in a series of cuts the administration says will save the city almost £5 million.
This includes:
- Leasing floor areas in Dundee House and other buildings across the city on a commercial basis.
- Cutting the money allocated to secondary schools in the city by 1%,
- The small skip service being scrapped
- Reduced funding for Dundee Science Centre, Dundee Contemporary Arts and Dundee Rep
During Thursday’s meeting, SNP councillors lay the blame on the UK government’s “bombshell” national insurance hike.
Council leader Mark Flynn said: “We’ve got an employers national insurance, a complete tax on jobs. That’s £7m added to the budget.
“I think that’s absolutely despicable and thought out extremely badly.”
Brought Ferry Castle
However, Broughty Ferry Caste will be saved.
Leisure and Culture Dundee will receive £50,000 to support the continued opening of Broughty Castle on a reduced-hours basis.
This would be a one-off funding investment pending further engagement on the delivery of a future sustainable operating model for this attraction.
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