The Scottish Government has revealed it will consult with local authorities about ending the three-year council tax freeze. Finance secretary John Swinney made the revelation to MSPs during a debate on spending cuts last week. The Scottish Executive is preparing for a £1.7bn cut to its budget and councils had warned that without the freedom to increase council tax, the pressure on jobs and services would be greater. The debate came as questions were raised on whether the flagship programme of free care for older people could be maintained in the current financial climate. Douglas Yates, the health and wellbeing spokesman for COSLA, warned he did not have ‘a clue' how the policy, which currently costs the taxpayer more than £358m per year, would be met. He predicted higher fee charges, or tax increases – or a combination both – would have to to be imposed if the policy were to stay. A budget review accepted the policy would be unaffordable over the long-term but a spokesman for the SNP said it remained committed to supporting existing provision. Mr Swinney said: ‘Our preference, as a government, is to retain the council tax freeze at a time when many households are still feeling the effects of the recession. ‘However, we acknowledge there are a range of views and we are consulting accordingly, particularly with our local authority partners.'