COUNCILLORS in Orkney have confirmed a 15% rise in council tax.
The motion passed 15 votes to six at a full council meeting on Tuesday.
It is the biggest increase in the levy in Scotland, as councils across the country opt for the largest rises in decades.
A nationwide freeze on the levy ends in April meaning local authorities can increase it by however much they like.
Last week, we told how councillors discussed how big a rise they should propose.
The elected members discussed the local authority’s long-term financial strategy which included the aim to bring the Islands’ council tax in line with the Scottish average.
A survey conducted ahead of this year’s council tax decision showed 47% of respondents were in favour of higher council tax increases to protect community services.
Last year, the local authority said it would need to increase council tax by 10%.
But the levy was frozen after receiving additional funding from the Scottish Government at the last minute.
