Borders and Dumfries and Galloway councils agree 3% tax rises

Councils in southern Scotland have agreed 3% increases in their tax rates

Two local authorities in the south of Scotland have agreed to increase their council tax by 3%.

The administrations in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders both saw their budget proposals approved.

It will see the bill for a band D property rise by £36.67 and £37.62 respectively.

Both councils have also agreed a series of key spending priorities including the likes of education, roads investment and gull control measures.

The council in the Borders is run by a Conservative-Independent alliance.

It said its spending plans had been shaped by "extensive public consultation".

Among its spending priorities are building a number of new schools across the region in Eyemouth, Earlston, Galashiels, Hawick and Peebles.

It has also set aside funding for new teachers and the delivery of residential care facilities in Hawick and Tweedbank.

Opposition councillors tabled a number of amendments - including increased tree-planting and expanding food waste collection - but they were all voted down.

In Dumfries and Galloway, a Labour-SNP coalition has council control.

Its budget proposals include measures to tackle poverty across the region, invest in education and help it achieve its Net Zero emissions target by 2025.

A regional indoor tennis centre, gull control measures and an options appraisal for replacing two bridges in Annan washed away by storms are also measures it intends to support.

Opposition Conservative councillors said they had worked up some financial proposals but had ultimately decided not to table them and focus their efforts on upcoming local government elections.