COUNCILLORS in North Ayrshire have been urged to reconsider their decision not to impose the full council tax increase on second homes in the area.
The plea comes from Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson, who says introducing the increase in full would go a long way to improving key services in the area.
Mr Gibson was speaking at a meeting of Largs Community Council (LCC) after a series of concerns were raised at the lack of council resources for floral arrangements, filling potholes in roads and cracks in pavements, and keeping public toilets in operation.
North Ayrshire Council is one of only three Scottish local authorities who opted not to make full use of new powers enabling councils to charge double the full rate of council tax on second homes.
Mr Gibson told LCC members: "I think North Ayrshire Council missed a trick as councillors didn't vote for the full rate of council tax on second homes.
"A huge number of local authorities, of different political party administrations, voted through these measures and have benefited, and since the changes were implemented there has been no backlash that I have been aware of.
MSP Kenneth Gibson (Image: Newsquest)
"Perth and Kinross is a Conservative administration and they voted it through. Argyll and Bute is SNP, and they voted it through.
"To my mind it is a no brainer. It would mean an extra £4m in the council's coffers to help with some of the issues raised at tonight's meeting.
"Edinburgh is another example of where it has been a success, and they have a Labour/Lib Dem administration.
"It is depriving people of the opportunity to live there. It is common sense and means more resources for the local authority.
"North Ayrshire Council has shot itself in the foot, quite frankly."
Councillors in North Ayrshire opted not to make full use of the new power because of concerns at the impact it might have on areas where there are large numbers of second homes, such as Cumbrae and Arran.
Mr Gibson continued: "The Scottish Government passed the legislation last year on housing tax on second homes, and in the main, it was strongly supported in many rural areas throughout Scotland for obvious reasons.
"In fact, 29 out of 32 local authorities voted through the legislation, with only North Ayrshire Council, Falkirk and Glasgow voting against."
"I am hoping councillors think twice about how successful it has been in other local authority areas as it is a fairly straight forward way of a resource which can be used across the whole of North Ayrshire."
NAC removed a 10 per cent discount on council tax on second homes in 2017.
Earlier this year council bosses agreed to consult island communities over the impact of the proposed increase on their economies.
The idea was vociferously opposed by Conservative councillors in North Ayrshire.
Councillor Tom Marshall (Conservative, North Coast) said: "The proposal will come back to the council but personally I don't think it is justified.
"People have saved over many years for a second home, perhaps as a holiday home, and why should they now be punished?
"As far as I can see it is an extra taxation on islanders. It is socialism gone mad.
"I think it will have a deleterious impact on the economies of both Arran and Cumbrae."
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