COUNCILS across Scotland are meeting to decide on council tax rises of up to 13 per cent, after the nationwide freeze was removed.
Councillors in Stirling, Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Dundee, Argyll and Bute, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway and South Lanarkshire have held meetings to discuss the tax rises. Many other Scottish councils met last week to confirm their own rises of up to 10%.
Tax rates had been frozen for the majority of the past 20 years, though with these caps being removed many areas have already seen rises far above the inflation rate of 3%.
The largest agreed percentage increase of the day came in the smallest authority, with Clackmannanshire councillors confirming a 13% rise.
Meanwhile, Orkney Council could surpass this increase as a proposal of 15% is being discussed.
Councillors in Aberdeenshire decided on a double-figure percentage rise of 10%.
Argyll and Bute Council agreed a 9.9% rise.
In Renfrewshire, a 9.5% rise was agreed.
Stirling Council voted for an 8.8% rise.
The increase in East Ayrshire was decided at 8%, with the same rise in South Ayrshire.
Dumfries and Galloway councillors voted through spending plans which resulted in a 9% increase.
South Lanarkshire Council decided on an increase of 6%, the lowest percentage rise so far across Scottish councils.
The Scottish Government had stated they were under “"enormous financial pressures" though are "investing in, and supporting, local authorities".
