Putting the proposal to freeze the council tax into perspective

Comhairle SNP Group expressed disappointment at the lack of empathy for low paid workers by councillors when attacking the amendment by the group for a council tax freeze.

When told about the impact of a rise alongside increasing energy costs, rents and food prices where those in lowest paid work would be hardest hit, reactions from some councillors to suggest a freeze was that it was "illogical and irresponsible", "Populist posturing" "Blow our reserves" a "gimmick".

Such contributions led to one councillor requesting "Not to rub our face in the gutter."

SNP Group leader, Cllr Gordon Murray stated: " It is disappointing that councillors, who represent communities who will face difficulties would use such disrespectful language when elected members are putting the case forward to help those who will not be in receipt of benefits and are low paid."

To put the proposal in perspective, the following pie chart represents monies that have not been spent after all service budgets have been agreed. This money is not being used and the council tax freeze would have used a percentage of that:

Was it to much to ask to use a small percentage of unused monies of £6.2 million to alleviate pressures on working families who are on low pay.

How your councillor voted in the council tax freeze debate

Councillors who voted to raise council tax

Cllr Roddie Mackay (Leader)

Cllr Donald Crichton

Cllr Finlay Stewart

Cllr Norrie T Macdonald 

Cllr Iain A Macneil

Cllr Paul Steele

Cllr Roddy Mackay

Cllr Iain Macleod

Cllr Uisdean Robertson

Cllr Paul Finnegan

Cllr Alasdair Macleod

Cllr Keith Dodson

Cllr Angus McCormack

Cllr Iain M Macaulay

Cllr Donald Crichton

Cllr John Mackay

Cllr Kenny J Macleod

Cllr Norman Macdonald (Convenor)

Councillors who voted for a council tax freeze

Cllr Calum Macmillan (Alba)

Cllr Donald Manford (SNP)

Cllr Grant Fulton (Alliance)

Cllr John G Mitchell (SNP)

Cllr Ranald Fraser (Alliance)

Cllr Rae Mackenzie (SNP)

Cllr Neil Mackay (Independent)

Cllr Gordon Murray (SNP)

Cllr John A  Maciver (SNP)

Cllr Calum Maclean (Alliance)

Cllr John N Macleod (Alliance)

Cllr Kenny Macleod (SNP)

SNP Group leader presents council tax freeze proposal

 These are unprecedented times. Our community are under severe pressure, still suffering the r avages of Covid with cases in the Western Isles escalating.

And things are not going to improve for a lot of people.

Financial anxiety will be caused by energy costs about to rise dramatically. We can see food prices on the rise as we do our weekly shopping, our social landlord has just increased the rents in our communities against a backdrop of a private housing rental market where rents are out of reach for a lot of people, who can't afford to buy their own home.

There is no doubt that families will struggle.

I want to draw members attention to those who are termed to be "in-work" poverty.

How horrendous is that which leaves people who are working struggling, costs of living rising and one of the highest levels of fuel poverty in Scotland.

I want to emphasise the situation for this who just miss out on benefits because they are in work - our lowest paid - the impact on them will be harsh and unrelenting.

The Comhairle, itself, predicts a pessimistic future, as it normally does, and it is always better to err on the side of caution and to be prudent.

But our Comhairle has money, underspends accruing every year, the Scottish Government sending more money such as £800,000 to help those in lower levels.

But I remind you again of our lowest paid - they may well have no contingencies, banks will not lend to them, and they all to often fall prey to loans to cover essential costs.

What I, and the SNP Group, wish to do and ask for your support is to give our communities a small breathing space.

What it will be like, if costs increase, rents increase, food prices increase, taxes increase and you are struggling to make ends meet - battered and bruised by the system - picture that.

Let us freeze the council tax and show our communities that we understand , care about them when many of them are facing these harsh realities.

I move the amendment. 

SNP / Alba councillors put forward Uist and Barra focused amendment

Budget Amendment

Proposed by Calum Macmillan (Alba), seconded by Donald Manford (SNP)

Amendment to the Budget and Council Tax Setting 2022/23 Report:

1)    1)  That the Comhairle make a ring-fenced contribution from reserves of £10,000 to the IJB Budget to bring the dental chairs in Tigh Criodh Uile Naoibh into operation to enable the best dental care possible for care home residents by utilising the already purchased dental chairs in the Care Home with such funding only to be available for this purpose and otherwise reverting to the Comhairle.

2)      2) That the council reinstates the national concessionary fare scheme for the Sounds of Barra and Harris to enable the elderly to access services throughout the Western Isles for 2022/23 funded from reserves; and

3)      3) that the Comhairle fully supports the crofting communities throughout the Western Isles and to show that support in a meaningful and real way, by allocating £15,000 from reserves to enable the abattoirs in Uist and Barra to continue providing their essential service for 2022/23.

Council set to debate council tax freeze

 On Tuesday 22nd February at 5pm, the full council will meet and debate whether to alleviate the burden imposed on households given escalating energy costs by freezing council tax.

The amendment proposed by Cllr Gordon Murray, Stornoway North and seconded by Cllr Rae Mackenzie, Stornoway South is as follows:

"That the Comhairle wishes to fully support council tax payers who are facing unprecedented and rapidly increasing energy costs, food prices escalating at a rate of up to 10% a year, increasing mortgage and rental bills and particularly recognising and empathising with those whose lives are being massively disrupted and with too many people being forced to make the hideous choice of whether to heat or eat declares its wish to offer all the help it can and as part of that help freezes the council tax levels for 2022-23 at the 2021-22 level funded from reserves."

Cllr Murray stated: " Our people are up against it and we wish to give some respite to their situation. We have the money to offer this and I think it is our duty of care to every family in the islands no to increase the financial burden."

SNP urge Comhairle to freeze council tax

Comhairle nan Eilean SNP Group have called for a council tax freeze for the year 2022-23 and have tabled an amendment to the budget setting meetings next week.

Group leader, Cllr Gordon Murray stated: "We are living in very challenging times where the cost of living is increasing and household budgets are under pressure like never before. By freezing the council tax, the Comhairle would be sending the right message to households across the islands that we understand the difficulties for everyone at this time and we are not going to increase the burden," 

"I think this is the right thing to do and I would urge support from all councillors to see the reasoning behind this amendment and vote for the freeze alongside the SNP Group."

The amendment is:

that the Comhairle wishes to fully support council tax payers who are facing unprecedented and rapidly increasing energy costs, food prices escalating at a rate of up to 10% a year, increasing mortgage and rental bills and, particularly recognising and empathising with those whose lives are being massively disrupted and with too many people being forced to make the hideous choice of whether to heat or eat, declares its wish to offer all the help it can and as part of that help freezes the council tax levels for 2022-23 at the 2021-22 level funded from balances 

Energy prices soar and islands face challenges

 Our islands are facing a crisis in terms of the cost of living per household with energy prices soaring. Other costs have gone up putting extreme pressure on our household budgets.

We note the public statements by the council leader and others lamenting this situation. 

This is why, at the coming budget setting, the SNP group will put forward proposals including one to freeze the council tax and not put more pressure on households which are at breaking point. This is in our power to do and we hope that all elected members will agree.

When we observe the terrible actions of the private energy companies making millions in profit at a time when the country is on its knees with the pandemic, we remember our proposals many years ago to explore an island Energy Supply Company so that publicly-owned wind farms could supply every household with cost-price electricity. This was rejected by the Independent administration at the Comhairle but, if elected in the next term, the Comhairle SNP Group will pursue this as we believe this is the only way we can eradicate fuel poverty - by public ownership of the price of electricity.

We, as a council, must address the dilemma of having the best wind energy potential in Western Europe along with the highest levels of fuel poverty in the country." 

Statement from SNP Group leader, Cllr Gordon Murray on WHFP article

"I received a phonecall this evening (2nd Feb 2022) from Cllr Norrie "Tomsh" Macdonald offering an apology for his ill-choice of words in his article in the West Highland Free Press last week."

"I accepted his apology on behalf of the group and forgave him immediately." 

SNP urge Comhairle to improve the conditions of carers in the Western isles

At Communities and Housing committee on Tuesday 1st February, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar SNP group urged the Comhairle to improve the working conditions of care workers in the Western Isles.

SNP group leader, Cllr Gordon Murray stated:

“Care workers fulfil the most important role in our communities and we need to recognise this. We have raised this many times, action had been promised yet we are still waiting. The council leader talks about quick fixes but the council could hardly be accused of that given the time he has taken to get to this point.”

“Once again, We urge the council to bring a report in discussion with the unions to ensure we reward our care workers and retain them whilst they do a valuable service - caring for our most vulnerable.”