Major budget savings have to be made in some areas

Aberdeen's Lib Dem and SNP administration pushed ahead with the plans - with the city's Bon Accord Baths set to close down as a result.

Aberdeenshire, Moray and Orkney's council tax was also frozen. Shetland had already done the same.

Aberdeenshire Council said the tax freeze had been achieved without making cuts to services.

'Impossible situation'

Aberdeen South MSP Nicol Stephen said: "This is an incredibly bad budget for Aberdeen - the worst I can remember.

"Vital public services are threatened with the axe. We have to campaign to stop the worst of these cuts.

"Councillors are trying to make the best of an impossible situation."

Aberdeenshire Council leader Anne Robertson said: "It shows that we have a clear vision of where this council is going."

Moray depute convener Allan Wright hailed a "balanced budget which is also a balance between initiatives to deliver this council's priorities and savings and efficiencies which do not impinge on frontline services".