WHERE IS THE £500M HUMZA?

Leaked document shows cash-strapped councils intending to raise levy by over 10%, First Minister under pressure to show how he can find millions to fund planned freeze

- PAUL HUTCHEON

LOCAL authority chiefs are planning council tax rises of more than 10 percent - piling pressure on Humza Yousaf to explain how his government will pay for a proposed freeze.

Papers from local government group Cosla, seen by the Daily Record, show some local authorities are considering inflation-busting council tax rises to maintain local services during the cost of living crisis.

But with the SNP/Green government promising to fund a council tax freeze across the country, First Minister Humza Yousaf has been urged to explain how he will compensate councils for binning planned rises.

Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie said: "The First Minister's council tax announcement was so off the cuff even his own Cabinet and coalition partners were taken by surprise.

"Many councils were planning significant rises to raise revenue. If a freeze is being imposed, councils will need to be compensated in full, otherwise, the First Minister will be forcing them to axe vital services.