Scotland’s First Minister has said he hopes to move his party’s long-standing pledge to reform council tax “at a quicker pace” than has been done before.
The SNP has pledged since it took office in 2007 to reform the levy, but no concrete proposals have ever made it to Holyrood.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Humza Yousaf told journalists there had been meetings with “various different parties and stakeholders” but refused to give a timetable on when reform proposals could be released.
“We’ll work with other parties in relation to reform of the council tax and try to get that reform moving at a quicker pace than, to be frank, it has moved in the last few years,” the First Minister said.
“But I couldn’t commit exactly to a timetable because discussions are ongoing with various different parties and stakeholders involved.”
Pushed on whether changes could be seen before the next election, the First Minister added: “We are serious about reform, I want to see a bit more pace in relation to reform and we will present those plans in the coming period.”
Speaking to STV on Wednesday following the passing of the Scottish Government’s budget, Deputy First Minister Shona Robison said there were “problems” with council tax, but any replacement would need to “stand the test of time”.
She mentioned that any new system should be fair, ought to replace the income currently generated from council tax, and she would prefer if it was connected to property value in some way.
Earlier in January, Scottish Greens co-leader and Government minister Patrick Harvie indicated that “fundamental” reform plans would be unveiled before the last discussion on the budget. That discussion happened on Tuesday afternoon, and it was suggested that the schedule might be outlined in Bill modifications.
However, no such amendments appeared, and the budget Bill was approved by 68 votes to 55, with one person abstaining.
