Cash settlement is fair, says Borders council leader

The financial settlement allocated to the Scottish Borders Council is "fair", according to its leader.

The authority will receive about £203m in 2015/16 from the Scottish government, under plans outlined by finance secretary John Swinney.

Council leader David Parker said: "The settlement is a difficult settlement in difficult, austere times but it's a fair settlement."

The council will outline their plans for the budget on Thursday.

He said there will be a council tax freeze and he expects a new form of local taxation to be introduced in 2018.

Mr Parker added: "The settlement figures are exactly what we were expecting from the Scottish government. We have obviously had very detailed discussions with them."