 Scottish bills are still less expensive than in the rest of Britain |
Council tax bills in Scotland have risen by 51% in the last 10 years, new research has shown. The largest increase was in Shetland, where the average charge rose by 118% over the period.
West Dunbartonshire saw the smallest increase in the UK, with average bills rising by only 21% since 1997.
A decade ago council tax bills in Scotland averaged �651 per household, while the average charge this year was �980.
The Bank of Scotland survey found Scottish council tax bills were 9% lower than the British average of �1,078.
Average council tax bills have risen by 111% in Wales between 1997-98 and 2007-08 and by 95% in England.
 | BIGGEST INCREASES Shetland 118% Orkney 103% Aberdeenshire 87% Borders 84% Moray 75% Aberden City 72% Western Isles 70% Highland 68% East Renfrewshire 67% Falkirk 66% |
Martin Ellis, chief economist with the Bank of Scotland, said council tax bills in Scotland had increased significantly faster than retail prices over the past 10 years.
He added: "However, growth rates in council tax bills over the past decade have been slower than those in both England and Wales.
"The smaller increases in Scotland mean there are now no Scottish billing authorities in the top 30 areas in Britain with the highest average council tax charges.
"By contrast more than one quarter of the 30 areas with the highest charges in Britain a decade ago were in Scotland."
Residents in East Renfrewshire had the highest council tax bills, with an average charge of �1,247, while residents in the Western Isles had the lowest charge, with bills there averaging �735.
Those living in Richmond upon Thames had the highest average bills in Britain, with charges there averaging �1,665, while the lowest bills were found in Wandsworth, where the average charge was �641.
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