COUNCILLORS have rubber-stamped a three percent increase in council tax for all Borders householders.

Following an enforced nine-year freeze by central government, local authorities were allowed to increase council tax by up to three percent each year.

Scottish Borders Council imposed the maximum increase for both 2017/18 and 2018/19.

And at Thursday's full council meeting members agreed to follow up with a further three percent rise from next April.

Chief Planning officer David Robertson recommended the full increase as opposed to initial plans for a 1.5 percent rise.

He said: "Council, in setting the indicative budget for 2019/20 in February 2018, projected that council tax would rise by 1.5 percent from April 1, 2019 providing an additional £0.9 million, net of discounts and exemptions, to fund council services.

"A three percent increase for April 1, 2019 would raise an additional £0.9m over and above this original estimate to support service provision and offset service reductions."

The three percent increase will take annual bills for Band A properties from £766.68 to £789.68.

Householders in Band B properties will incur a £26.83 increase to £921.29.

And annual bills for Band C properties will rise from £1022.24 to £1052.91.

Householders in Band D properties will have to fork out an additional £34.50, while annual council tax for Band E properties will increase by £45.33 to £1556.32.