COUNCIL tax is set to be officially frozen in Clacks for the coming year when Wee County representatives meet next week.

The move not to increase the local government levy will be tabled at a meeting of Clackmannanshire Council on Thursday, March 4.

However, water and sewerage charges – set independently from the council by Scottish Water – will be subject to inflationary increases.

Council officers are recommending that elected representatives agree to set the level of council tax for the coming financial year at the same level as in 2020-21.

It comes after the Scottish Government offered financial compensation to councils who choose to freeze the local levy.

Council papers to be tabled on the day said: “This compensation amounts to £90million for all councils across Scotland and equates to an approximate 3 per cent increase in council tax income for individual councils.

“For Clackmannanshire this means that the financial planning assumption of an increase in council tax of 3 per cent will be fully funded.”

No increase would result in a band D council tax of £1,304.63 for 2021-22, not including water charges.

In the lowest valuation band, A, this will amount to £869.75 or £724.79 with a reduction for disabled people.

The highest valuation band, H for properties valued at more than £212,000, will see the levy set at £3,196.34.

Council documents added: “At present there is no confirmation that the additional £90m will be baselined.

“If this is not baselined then this would put pressure on the council's funding gap in future years which may require higher increases in council tax.”

It is understood the council freeze grant from the Scottish Government will come on top of the local authority's baseline settlement.

Local authorities across the country have been seeking to establish whether the grant will effectively recur and be baselined into future allocations.

At the same meeting, councillors will hear that the full general fund revenue and capital budgets for the year ahead will be presented to Kilncraigs by the end of March.

Council tax bands for 2021-22, excluding Scottish Water charges.

  • Band A – Disabled: £724.79
  • Band A – up to £27,000: £869.75
  • Band B - £27,001 to £35,000: £1,014.71
  • Band C - £35,001 to £45,000: £1,159.67
  • Band D - £45,001 to £58,000: £1,304.63
  • Band E - £58,001 to £80,000: £1,714.14
  • Band F - £80,001 to £106,000: £2,120.02
  • Band G - £106,001 to £212,000: £2,554.89
  • Band H – more than £212,000: £3,196.34