East Lothian first local authority in Scotland to confirm 10% council tax increase

18 February 2025, 15:10 | Updated: 18 February 2025, 17:58

East Lothian Council is the first local authority in Scotland to approve a double-digit council tax increase.

The SNP government's flagship freeze on the levy comes to an end in April.

East Lothian Council leader Norman Hampshire said the 10% rise was necessary to maintain essential services to protect vulnerable residents and to give children the best start in life.

The Labour-led administration received cross-party support - 17 votes in favour and four against - to pass its 2025-26 budget on Tuesday.

The local authority said it was developed in light of financial pressures it is facing amid the region's growing population, wider economic challenges, and "increasing national policy expectations".

Councillor Hampshire said: "Our financial situation means it has been necessary to set a council tax increase of 10%.

"East Lothian's growth continues to put pressure on all parts of the council.

"It is vital that we can sustain essential services to protect our most vulnerable residents and invest in education to give all children the best start in life."

East Lothian council tax increases:

• Band A (£957.08 2024-25 rate): £1.84 weekly increase, £7.98 monthly
• Band B (£1,116.59 2024-25 rate): £2.15 weekly increase, £9.31 monthly
• Band C (£1,276.10 2024-25 rate): £2.45 weekly increase, £10.63 monthly
• Band D (£1,435.62 2024-25 rate): £2.76 weekly increase, £11.96 monthly
• Band E (£1,886.24 2024-25 rate): £3.63 weekly increase, £15.72 monthly
• Band F (£2,332.88 2024-25 rate): £4.49 weekly increase, £19.44 monthly
• Band G (£2,811.42 2024-25 rate): £5.41 weekly increase, £23.43 monthly
• Band H (£3,517.26 2024-25 rate): £6.76 weekly increase, £29.31 monthly

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Rent will also increase by 6.5%, with councillors additionally approving plans to invest more than £211m in infrastructure over the next five years.

The roads department will receive an uplift of £1m, while an additional £1m will be funnelled into modernising council houses.

The Scottish government's flagship council tax freeze was dropped for the nation's draft 2025-26 budget.

Finance secretary Shona Robison instead pledged to increase local authority funding by more than £1bn, taking the total amount to more than £15bn.

While accepting it is up to the 32 local authorities to make their own decisions what to do with the money, she said there should be "no reason for big increases" in council tax rates.

(c) Sky News 2025: East Lothian first local authority in Scotland to confirm 10% council tax increase