THE Labour-led council in Edinburgh was hatching plans to increase council tax by 20% before the First Minister announced a freeze.
During an interview with the Daily Record, council leader Cammy Day suggested that council tax would have to rise by 20% if all services were to be maintained at current levels due to a “funding gap” caused by strains on local council budgets.
Such a rise would have seen some households pay up to £709 more in council tax per year from April.
Households in the lowest band would have seen their bill increase by £193.
It follows similar plans by other Labour-run councils, including East Lothian, which had planned a 32% council tax increase - costing local residents up to £1126 more.
Deidre Brock, the SNP MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, said such steep increases in council tax could not be justified during the cost of living crisis.
"Households across Scotland are saving hundreds of pounds as a result of the SNP government's council tax freeze - putting money in people's pockets when they need it most,” she said.
"It's staggering that the Labour Party wants to charge residents in Edinburgh up to £709 more in council tax during a cost of living crisis, when people are already struggling to pay their bills.
"The SNP government is doing what it can with limited devolved powers to help people through this Westminster crisis, and it's time the UK government did its bit too.
"With the next UK budget in a fortnight's time, the Chancellor must introduce a £400 energy bill rebate, mortgage interest relief and action on food prices to support household budgets.
"With every day the UK government fails to act, it is demonstrating why Scotland needs the full powers of independence to boost household incomes and take action where it has failed."
Day said he had yet to hear from the First Minister about what support would be given to local councils following the announcement of the freeze.
“Any proposals to take this democratic decision and accountability away from local councils must be fully funded, or cuts will have to be made,” he said.
“Through COSLA we have written to the First Minister asking for clarity of this surprise announcement contrary to the agreement recently signed between the First Minister and local councils.”
