Friday February 6th 2026
West Lothian Council headquarters
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
The big unknown for West Lothian households as they await the budget is: By how much will the Council Tax rise?
After a decade of Holyrood imposed freezes, Scotland’s councils were unfettered last year and West Lothian was among the more modest when it came to rises.
Councillors today (Friday) looked at a “baseline option” of a 4.5% increase that would bring in just over £12m over the next two years- a little over £6m each year. That would mean an additional cost for band D taxpayers of £5.68 per month or £1.31 per week.
The detailed budget for 2025/26 approved a council tax increase of 8.95% for 2025/26, but the initial planned increase had been 5.4%.
In February last year neighbouring councils had the highest and lowest increases in Scotland. Falkirk Council imposed a 15% hike while South Lanarkshire bills rose only by 6%.
That being the case councillors have a fair bit of leeway to push for a much bigger rise than 4.5% in the next two weeks, should they choose.
Papers before the Corporate Policy and Resources PDSP gave different scenarios for hikes of up to 10%, and the difference that would mean to the average D Band household.
Finance Director Alasdair Black told the meeting that a budget model assumed 900 new houses will be built annually which will provide additional income of £2.3 million. A 4.5% increase in council tax for 2026/27 and 2027/28 would provide further additional income of £10.4 million over the next two years- a total income of £12.7m.
A budget assumption of a 4.5% increase in 2026/27 would see band D taxpayers paying £131.97 a month, or £30.45 a week, from April.
But if councillors opt for a 9% rise in Council Tax it will mean band D households pay £137.65 a month, or £31.77 a week.
The papers before council revealed: “The Scottish average [annual] band D council tax is £1,543 compared with the West Lothian 2025/26 band D rate of £1,515.45.”
West Lothian Council has the ninth lowest council tax band D rate of Scotland’s 32 local councils.
The report added: “From 2017/18 to 2025/26 the average band D council tax rate for Scotland has increased from £1,173 to £1,543, an increase of £370 (31.5%) or 89p per week for eight years. West Lothian’s band D rate has increased by £387.43 (34.4%) or 93p per week.”
The Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) provides mitigation to those who cannot afford to pay the full amount. In West Lothian households 74% of properties in West Lothian are in bands A to D. Of those band A to D properties 47% of households are in receipt of a form of discount or exemption. And 16% of households in bands A to D are in receipt of CTRS.
The report to council said: “Since … February 2025, the recurring budget position, including recurring pressures, has deteriorated as a result of inflationary pressures and increasing demands.
“On 11 November 2025… an overspend of £2.588 million was forecast for 2025/26. The IJB has agreed to fund an equal share of the overspend on IJB delegated social care functions, which would reduce the overspend to £2.160 million.
“Prospects for all budgets are worsening rather than improving, with funding provided falling short of the amount required to continue the provision of local services as they are currently delivered.”
Concluding his report Mr Black said: “Given the extent of the financial challenge facing the council over the next two years, council tax increases will form an essential element of securing a financially stable council able to deliver services to West Lothian communities.”
The full council will make a final decision on the level of Council Tax by the end of the month.
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