Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders Council vote through budgets

Councillors met in Newtown St Boswells and Dumfries to set their budgets

Two south of Scotland local authorities have agreed to increase their council tax as part of their annual budgets.

The Labour-SNP ruling group in Dumfries and Galloway said it had "little choice" but to make the maximum increase allowed of 4.79%.

Councillors voted in favour of that budget by 25 to 16 with one abstention - former leader Ronnie Nicholson.

A 4% rise proposed by the Conservative-Independent administration in the Borders was agreed by 17 votes to 16.

Both councils said the increases would be used to help bridge significant funding gaps.

In the Borders it means a rise of about £45-a-year in council tax on a band D property while in Dumfries and Galloway it will be more than £50.

The two administrations have also set out their spending priorities.

In Dumfries and Galloway, one focus is on tackling poverty, with £1.375m allocated to a range of initiatives.

New capital allocations would see £1m go towards improving roads and £338,000 to bring travellers' sites up to Scottish government standards.

In the Borders, areas of investment would include education and roads infrastructure.