Council tax in Angus to rise by 9.38%

Councillors in Angus have voted to increase council tax by 9.38% following the local authority's annual budget meeting.

It means the average Band D property will pay £1598.65 a year, up from £1461.52.

The coalition administration's budget proposals were voted through at the meeting on Tuesday.

Councils in Perth and Kinross, Dundee, and Falkirk will set their council tax rises this week.

The SNP and non-aligned opposition group had put forward a 8.3% council tax increase proposal.

Speaking at the meeting, council leader George Meechan said: "To continue to provide the services that communities want and expect, we need to set the council tax that will provide the revenue required.

"Angus council tax remains one of the lowest in Scotland.

"Had (it) matched the Scottish average from 1997 to 2025, we would have accrued an additional cumulative income of £108m.

"This is roughly the equivalent to the savings we've been forced to make in the last 13 years."

The administration budget also incorporates £10.9m of uncommitted reserves.

However, Meechan said the administration "will only draw from reserves where it's responsible, sustainable and in the public interest".

The approved budget will see an additional £750,000 added to the council's public infrastructure fund.

The administration said this would unlock £1.6m of extra borrowing capacity.

The budget also included £500,000 to fund modern graduate apprenticeships and traineeships in Angus and the same amount for £500,000 for complex care transitions for children moving into adulthood.