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."
