Aberdeen agrees council tax increase of 9.85%
Councillors in Aberdeen have backed a council tax rise of 9.85%.
Officials had been recommending 11%, but the SNP and Liberal Democrat administration successfully proposed the lower figure.
It means band D council tax will be set at £1,636.27.
Proposing the 9.85% rise, the SNP's Alex McLellan said the council faced "incredibly challenging" circumstances and "incredibly difficult" decisions.
The opposition Labour group had proposed a 6.5% council tax rise, while the Conservatives suggested a 7% increase.
Among cities, Aberdeen's decision follows Edinburgh and Dundee opting for 8%, and Glasgow at 7.5%.
More stories from North East Scotland, Orkney and Shetland
Listen to news from North East Scotland on BBC Sounds
Mr McLellan added that council tax payers had the right to expect a "certain standard of delivery" with services.
Band D rising by 9.85% would add £146 a year to bills,
Mr McLellan said they would look into an investment plan for refurbishing the city's "iconic" Beach Ballroom, with a view to securing the future of the building.
Labour councillor Tauqeer Malik argued for 6.5% and a budget of "positivity rather than negativity".
Conservative Richard Brooks, pushing for 7%, said 9.85% was effectively a 10% rise and called for a fair deal for Aberdeen.
Independent Marie Boulton warned that residents would be left with the reality of the council's decision, and that the near 10% rise would put some "over the edge".
The 9.85% motion passed with 23 votes against 12 for the Labour amendment, with nine abstentions.
Councillors in Aberdeenshire, Moray and Shetland previously went with a 10% increase in council tax.
On Tuesday, Orkney councillors agreed a 15% rise - the highest such rise so far across Scotland.
Orkney councillors back 15% council tax rise
Aberdeenshire council tax to rise by 10%
Moray's council tax to rise by 10%
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Manhattan borough-president candidates duke it out over public safety, bail reform
The city's only borough-president primary race considered competitive by political observers is heating up over the issue of public safety and the state's controversial bail law changes. State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and city Councilman Keith Powers are the leading candidates in the Democratic Manhattan showdown. Powers recently slammed Hoylman-Sigal for his support of the bail law changes in Albany and said that the state legislators have been too slow to make changes. 3 City Councilman Keith Powers is running for Manhattan Borough President. Paul Martinka 'When polling shows that 80% of New Yorkers are concerned about public safety and Brad dismisses those concerns out of hand, it shows he's out of touch with New Yorkers in Manhattan,' Powers said. Powers said his own public safety plan would increase the number of cops in Manhattan precincts, helping to keep dangerous people off the streets, and ease the discovery process, or how prosecutors must share information with defense lawyers. 'It's been crystal-clear in the past few years that we have a mental-health crisis and there have been some elected officials who have been out of touch with New Yorkers and they failed to meet the moment,' Powers told The Post. Hoylman-Sigal shot back at Powers' jabs by saying housing, quality-of-life, public-safety and education issues are his top concerns. 'I don't know what my opponent has done in terms of public safety and specifically passing any legislation' Hoylman-Sigal said. 3 State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal campaigning for Manhattan BP on May 31, 2025. Kyle Stevens/Shutterstock He pointed to legislation he has backed cracking down on serial shoplifting and increasing the number of hate-crime offenses. Hoylman-Sigal also defended his initial support for the state's bail-reform laws, saying they were based on concern over due process. He said supported subsequent changes to the laws, discovery reform and involuntary-commitment mental-health standards. 'Look, I'm a proud Liberal Democrat, and I will always stand by the Constitution and the right to a free and fair trial and a hearing before a judge,' said Hoylman-Sigal, explaining his initial support for the bail reform laws. 3 Powers slammed Hoylman-Sigal for supporting bail reform laws in Albany. Kyle Stevens/Shutterstock Powers has strong union support in the race, backed by heavyweights such as 32BJ SEIU, the Hotel Trades Council and the United Federation of Teachers. Hoylman-Sigal has the endorsements of three former Manhattan borough presidents and a slew of other pols. The Manhattan beep's race also includes political newbie Dr. Calvin Smith. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso is meanwhile fending off challenger and previous candidate Khari Edwards, while fellow Bronx beep incumbent Vanessa Gibson is being challenged by city Councilman Rafael Salamanca. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards isn't facing a primary challenge, but three other Republican candidates are competing to challenge him in November. On Staten Island, incumbent Vito Fossella doesn't have a primary challenger but will square off against Democratic challenger Michael Colombo in the general. The primary election is June 24.
UPI
2 hours ago
- UPI
Britain agrees to open child sexual grooming investigation
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a joint press conference with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington DC, in February. File photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo June 15 (UPI) -- British officials said Sunday that they have never dismissed reports of child grooming gangs in the country, and vowed to release the results of an investigation Monday. "These are the most important people in the discussions," chancellor Rachel Reeves said on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg program. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been criticized for ignoring reports about grooming gangs, and initially appeared to resist an independent investigation, but did agree to open an inquiry after months of pressure from conservatives. The results of a previous report are to be released Monday, and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is scheduled to address the findings with Parliament. When promoted, Reeves said Sunday that Starmer has long been focused on the grooming gang activity, and she shifted the blame to the Conservative party that held office prior to Starmer's election, intimating that the previous administration had not taken action to address the issue, either. "Our prime minister has always been really focused on the victims, and not grandstanding but actually doing the practical things to ensure something like this never happens again," she said Sunday. Maggie Oliver, a former detective with the Greater Manchester Police who resigned over the way the said grooming cases were handled in Rochdale, said both parties have been "dragged kicking and screaming to this point" to address grooming gang allegations. "For me, I can only look at them with contempt, because I see on the ground the suffering their neglect has caused," she said on the Sunday program. A prior report seven years in the making conclude that child sexual abuse was "epidemic" across the nation, and made 20 recommendations in 2022. Advocates said many of the victims have been waiting years for justice.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
SNP must follow Labour's plans after UK Government winter fuel U-turn, says MSP
Readers may be aware of the welcome news from the UK Labour Government on Winter Fuel Payments for older people this week. The move means that more than three quarters of pensioners in England and Wales will receive the payment this winter. Households with a pensioner under 80 years old will receive £200, while those with one over 80 will receive £300. But by restricting it to those with an income of, or below, £35,000 per year, the UK Labour Government is also making sure that rich millionaires who simply don't need the payment won't get it. Pensioners in England and Wales with incomes of, or below, £35,000 a year will receive winter fuel payments after a U-turn by the UK Government - and Neil Bibby says the Scottish Government will have no choice but to follow suit for older people north of the border. (Image: Newsquest) This is a response to the many concerns raised that the threshold for eligibility was too low. It's not often governments listen and make changes when they get things wrong, but it is refreshing, and I am glad they have. This news is fantastic for pensioners south of the border who were worried about heating their homes this winter. But it is also great news for pensioners in Scotland because the SNP Government will now have no choice but to follow suit. This decision will bring even more money to Scotland - so there is no excuse not to pass it on. READ MORE: Inverclyde councillors rubber-stamp £600,000 fuel help to more than 1,000 needy pensioners The SNP Government also needs to follow Labour's plan because, since the payment was devolved in Scotland, many lower- and middle-income Scottish pensioners are due to get less money than they would elsewhere in the UK. The SNP's current plans mean that Scottish pensioners who are not in receipt of specific benefits will only receive £100. Since the UK Government's initial announcement on the Winter Fuel Payment last year, Scottish Labour has continued to call for a Scottish solution to the issue. READ MORE: 12,500 households in Inverclyde set to lose up to £300 to help keep warm this winter Indeed, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar stated last November that he would reinstate the payment and extend the eligibility threshold if elected into government in 2026. The UK Labour government's expansion of the Winter Fuel Payment is a game-changer and good news for pensioners. The SNP Scottish Government should now follow suit without delay to ensure that pensioners in Scotland get the benefit.
