A comfortable majority backed the plans, although SNP MSPs were forced by their opponents to accept an amendment criticising the controversial plans. Charges will increase for properties in bands E to H, a move that the Scottish Government say will raise an extra £100 million a year to be spend on closing the education attainment gap. Before the Scottish Government plans were voted on, opposition parties had thrown their weight behind a Green Party amendment which said the council tax changes “undermine the principle of local accountability and autonomy”. The Green amendment was passed amid anger that the SNP had failed to keep its promise to scrap and replace the council tax with a fairer system. The amendment, which was passed by 64 votes to 63, also criticised the Government for failing to address issues raised by the Commission on Local Tax Reform which recommended the abolition of council tax. It added that there “should be further discussions by all parties to seek to establish an enduring system of local government finance”. The passage of the amendment left SNP with the choice of voting for an amended Scottish Government motion which acknowledged the Green’s criticisms or failing to support their own policy. In the end the SNP supported the amended motion, which was passed by 92 to 35 votes with the Conservatives and Lib Dems voting against it. The average annual increase in council tax: Band E - £105 Band F - £207 Band G - £335 Band H - £517