COUNCILLORS in Orkney have voted narrowly in favour of a proposed 15% increase in the islands' council tax – after rejecting a suggested rise of 20%.
Officials had recommended putting the rate up by 11%, but councillors voted 11-10 in favour of 15%.
A full meeting of the council will be asked to approve the rate in due course.
It comes after several other local authorities announced above-inflation increases in council tax last week, including in Glasgow, Fife and the Scottish Borders.
Shetland Islands Council has agreed to a 10% increase in bills while Western Isles authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is expected to agree to an 8% rise.
For an average band D property, the increases would mean an annual bill of:
- Orkney: £1574.59
- Shetland: £1387
- Western Isles: £1394.01
In Orkney, the proposed increase is forecast to raise an extra £1.7 million for the council.
It has identified the need for £700,000 savings, increasing charges for its services by 10% and introducing new charges for services such as telecare.
It faces using up to £20m from its reserve fund to maintain its services.
Shetland's deputy leader Gary Robinson said the 10% rise would help the island authority to get back to a more sustainable position.
He said Shetland had had the lowest council tax rate in Scotland for years.
Council officials had been recommending a rise of 5%.
The local authority is still expected to need to draw about £36m from its reserves to balance its new budget.
