Can Council Tax come down?

There has been exhaustive commentary in the media on the new SNP executive's plan to 'freeze' council tax with a view to replacing it with a 'local income tax'.

The idea has been widely debunked, even in it's half-way form. Professor David Bell of Stirling University - a sound head if ever there was one - has pointed out that the 'freeze' will benefit the rich more than the poor.

Numerous other comentators have pointed out that a local income tax will destroy local democracy becasue it will be fixed and so will remove any financial accountability that councils have. It will also provide a powerful incentive for wealth creators to move south of the Border - an effect likely to be felt most acutely in the Borders

But for the time being we're stuck with the freeze.

But what if a council meanwhile wanted to cut council tax?

Scottish Borders Council obviously has much scope for trimming. Today's Southern Reporter told us about the absurd Tai Chi facilities available to council workers in St Boswell's. The region is littered with lavish but ungrammatical signs produced by SBC. They run extensive and fruitless progammes to boost economic growth. Services such as rubbish collection are clearly run in a costly and inefficent way. etc etc.

If a dynamic administration (hint hint, Borders Party!) ran tight ship, could they return funds to taxpayers under current or future arrangements?

Anyone out there who can let us know? Perhaps someone from the SNP will know the answer.