Scottish Government Consultation on The Future of Council Tax in Scotland.

Very interesting Homestead62. At least you are being consulted.
In England , where I live, though I am Scottish, the idea is to create higher bands which will affect those whose houses' values have increased by a lot more than most others.
I wonder though how many of them are actually well off enough to afford higher council taxes. Some will have lived there since their homes were seen as quite modest.
I think council taxes should be raised from people's incomes.
Inheritance tax is a different matter.
I wonder how many people will bother to fill in these forms?

I will be most interested to see how the consultation goes.

AN41

Very interesting Homestead62. At least you are being consulted.
In England , where I live, though I am Scottish, the idea is to create higher bands which will affect those whose houses' values have increased by a lot more than most others.
I wonder though how many of them are actually well off enough to afford higher council taxes. Some will have lived there since their homes were seen as quite modest.
I think council taxes should be raised from people's incomes.
Inheritance tax is a different matter.
I wonder how many people will bother to fill in these forms?

In the Scottish budget, last week, it was announced a similar "mansion" tax to the English proposal will be implemented in Scotland 2028.

There was an English consultation on Council tax administration last year. I'm don't know if England are considering the type of reforms Scotgov are currently consulting on. The response rates to Scotgov consultations tend to be extremely low. They should maybe consult on how cost-effective their consultations are.

I do complete these consultations but find them very frustrating. The questions obviously try to funnel you into the direction they want you to go. However, Scottish government often use 'consultations' instead of actually doing something. It's very frustrating.

It's a tick box to supposedly show open government.
The consultation on the Scottish Human Rights Act had less than 400 responses. It will be interesting to see how many respond to the council tax consultation. My council hasn't bothered to promote the consultation, although other councils have.

Well, I feel if you don't contribute, you cannot complain. I haven't been able to get anybody interested even though most folk pay Council Tax.

I know. That's why I always contribute to these facile 'consultations'.

Badly thought out questions, but have completed

AN41

I will be most interested to see how the consultation goes.

Me too.

Completed. Bit of a slog, though.

I'd contributed before you posted. I contribute to ones that are relevant to me or interest me. I don't feel that by not contributing people cannot complain, that's far too simplistic. There's been nearly 300 public consultations in the last 5 years, how many are even aware of the process let alone the individual consultations. The consultations are not widely advertised, if high engagement is the desire more should be done to encourage it - my council still haven't publicised it.

The charity I'm involved with tear their hair when SG announce another consultation into their problem and needs! There have been so many. I suppose it's cheaper than actually addressing the issues.

In view of the regular low response to consultations why not include the questionnaire in the Council tax notification notice. At least the population would be aware of what was going on. Or perhaps that's tge whole idea, keep them quiet and just plough ahead with what has probably already been decided.

Thanks. I’ve filled it in.

Thanks for this, just completed it.

*"The response rates to Scotgov consultations tend to be extremely low. They should maybe consult on how cost-effective their consultations are."^ Since no-one seems to be aware of this consultation, maybe they should be more active in publicising it.

Thank you for this. My daughter lives in Scotland. Not sure if she's heard of it, but sent it to her anyways.

Completed it a few weeks back

The consultation details were reported in the Scottish media when in was launched last October. The suggestion was also made that there would be no reform of the current system for at least a decade, which probably meant many just dismissed it as not important.

Perhaps they should have published a reminder at the beginning of January, giving people time to complete it before the deadline, and put emphasis on "We want your opinions"?

I have seen nothing about it recently. If I saw it in October and it didn't sound urgent, I could easily have forgotten all about it. Not everyone in October 2025 adds a deadline three months away to their 2026 diary, (which they don't even possess yet) for a consultation about possible changes that may not happen for a decade.

Oldfrill, I didn't see anything about any consultation, but you obviously know all about it. Of course perhaps I'm just too simplistic and ignorant compared to you.

Homestead62

Oldfrill, I didn't see anything about any consultation, but you obviously know all about it. Of course perhaps I'm just too simplistic and ignorant compared to you.

Jeez, should l stop breathing

Elegran

Perhaps they should have published a reminder at the beginning of January, giving people time to complete it before the deadline, and put emphasis on "We want your opinions"?

I have seen nothing about it recently. If I saw it in October and it didn't sound urgent, I could easily have forgotten all about it. Not everyone in October 2025 adds a deadline three months away to their 2026 diary, (which they don't even possess yet) for a consultation about possible changes that may not happen for a decade.

They don't promote participation, they do the bare minimum.

Oldfrill, you asked for it. You could have said you disagreed without having to post a sarcastic comment. I only posted this to give people a chance to complete the consultation. This is why I left Gransnet previously, due to people on here and their total snide remarks and then go on to play the victim when they get a reaction they don't like. If you don't like what I post, feel free to ignore. You don't feel the consultation was important, that's fine.