Time and date of decision to freeze council tax: FOI release

Information requested

"On Good Morning Scotland radio programme, the Deputy First Minister, Shona Robison, said of the Scottish Government’s decision to freeze council tax that it was “made in 24 or 48 hours before the speech (First Minister’s speech)” and that it “this wasn’t signed off by Cabinet”.

Based on this information, I am requesting the following information through FOI legislation:

1. The minutes of the meeting in which the decision was taken to freeze council tax.

2. Confirmation of who was present from the Scottish Government (including civil servants and Ministers) when the decision was made.

If civil servant’s names have to be redacted then so be it, but please include the names of Ministers and elected representatives

3. The exact time and date that the decision to freeze council tax was taken."

Response

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some the information you have requested.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested regarding questions one and two of your request.

In response to question three, the decision to freeze council tax was communicated to Scottish Government policy officials on the 17 October 2023 at 08:07 am by the First Minister's private office.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.