COUNCIL tax bills will be dropping through letter boxes across the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area over the next week.

Council tax in Fife will increase by 3% - this means the charge for a band D property will increase from £1,118 annually to £1,151.54.

Increasing council tax will provide £4.4m at a time when funding cuts for councils across Scotland are more severe than ever.

The Scottish Government has also changed the way that council tax for bands E to H is calculated, which means that bills for these households will increase by more than 3%. Fife Council has stressed it has no control over this part of the increase.

There are new eligibility criteria for council tax reduction for households in bands E to H – if you are single and earn less than £16,750 a year, or if your combined household income is less than £25,000 you may be entitled to financial assistance. Similarly if you live alone you may be entitled to a 25% reduction.

Les Robertson, Head of Revenue and Commercial Services, stressed that it’s vital that council tax bills are paid on time so that the council can continue to deliver its services to the people of Fife.

The most efficient and easiest way to pay your council tax is by setting up a direct debit. You can now also spread the cost over 12 months instead of 10. To set up or change a direct debit visit www.fifedirect.org.uk/paymycounciltax

Les said: “It is important that if people are having difficulty paying their council tax that they contact us as soon as possible as the Council will always try to assist those who face difficulties including how to access a range of external money advice services.”

For more information and to apply for a reduction visit www.fifedirect.org.uk/ctaxcharges