Argyll & Bute Council was considering raising council tax but with a further £6.26 million made available, the local authority set a special council meeting yesterday to re-consider the council tax decision.

As a result, council taxpayers in all but one of Scotland’s council areas will not pay any more for their bills than they did in 2023-24. Households in Inverclyde will receive a planned one-off rebate in May to reverse the impact of their 8.2% increase in council tax.

Councillor Jim Lynch, leader of Argyll and Bute Council, said: “We are now in a position to freeze council tax this year and also save local services from cuts. People need council services to live well in their communities. They also need day-to-day costs to be kept down wherever possible. Today’s decision passes on the benefits of this new funding to our communities – council tax is frozen and council services continue to be available.”

Deputy first minister Shona Robison said: “We know many households continue to struggle with the impact of rising prices, and this council tax freeze – funded by the Scottish Government – is just one of many ways that we’re offering support. Council tax is already lower in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK, and over two million households will now benefit from this freeze.

“We deeply value the role local authorities play in Scotland’s communities, which is why – in the face of a profoundly challenging financial situation – we have made available record funding of more than £14 billion to councils in 2024-25, a real-terms increase of 2.5% compared with the previous year.”

The Scottish Government allocated £147m for local authorities who agreed a council tax freeze. The Deputy First Minister also confirmed to COSLA and council leaders a further £62.7m to councils freezing council tax which comprises £45m in consequentials resulting from the recent announcement on ring-fenced Adult Social Care funding in England and a £17.7m increase to the local government General Revenue Grant. The Islands Cost of Living fund will also be increased by £4m.