COUNCIL tax will rise in East Lothian from April, with the largest households facing an increase of almost £600 a year.

East Lothian Council today approved plans to introduce a three per cent rise in council tax annually for the next three financial years.

The move will see council tax in lower band properties increase by between £22 and £34 a year.

But higher band properties will pay significantly more as, in addition to the three per cent across-the-board rise set by East Lothian Council, MSPs had previously approved plans to hike up charges in bands E to H.

This means that householders in the top band in East Lothian, Band H, will face a whopping 26.18 per cent rise in council tax come April, with their bills increasing by £585.07 annually.

Councillor Willie Innes, council leader, said that the decision to increase council tax by three per cent had been taken in the wake of a cut on the direct funding the local authority receives from the Scottish Government and would be the equivalent of an additional 65p a week for people living in Band D housing.

The new council tax bills for 2017/2018 (including the three per cent rise set by East Lothian Council and the additional charges for Band E-H properties) are:

  • Band A - £767.43 (increase £22.35)
  • Band B - £895.34 (increase £26.08)
  • Band C - £1,023.24 (increase £29.80)
  • Band D - £1,151.15 (increase £33.53)
  • Band E - £1,512.48 (increase £146.50)
  • Band F - £1,870.62 (increase £256.28)
  • Band G - £2,254.33 (increase £391.63)
  • Band H - £2,820.31 (increase £585.07)

Also at today's budget meeting, in Haddington Town House, it was agreed to increase council rent by five per cent for a second year running from April.

The council administration budget included pledges to invest £97million in school buildings over the next three years, with a promise to invest £144million in council housing over the next five years.

However it also included plans to look at saving nearly £2million in its staffing budget over the next three years - equivalent of up to 62 jobs.

For indepth coverage of East Lothian Council's budget meeting see this week's Courier