COUNCIL tax will increase by seven per cent throughout the county after East Lothian Council's budget was approved.

Councillors met this morning (Tuesday) to agree spending plans for the year ahead as they set the local authority’s budget.

A funding gap of nearly £19 million was identified, with Councillor Norman Hampshire, East Lothian Council leader, describing the “mounting financial difficulties facing councils” across Scotland as “unprecedented”.

Among the other changes approved were moving the household waste (green bin collection) service to a three-weekly service, rather than fortnightly, from April next year.

At that point, a charge will also be introduced for the garden waste (brown bin collection) service.

READ MORE: East Lothian Council facing £45 million funding gap in next five years

After a freeze in previous years, rents for council tenants will increase by five per cent.

Mr Hampshire said: “Councils continue to deal with very significant external pressures such as rising supply and energy costs, inflation, interest rate rises and the cost of borrowing.

“Income has not been keeping pace with the cost of delivering services, at a time when East Lothian is one of Scotland’s fastest-growing areas.

“Most of our revenue budget comes from national government, with council tax income representing less than a quarter of funding.

“In East Lothian, our grant from central government is the third lowest in Scotland per head of population.

"There is no recognition within the grant received of East Lothian’s increasing population and the rising costs that arise, including the staffing and running of new schools.

“At a time when we are delivering significant growth, this is putting huge pressure on our budget.”

Mr Hampshire described the decision to increase council tax by seven per cent as being taken “very reluctantly”.

He said: “With a funding gap of £18.9m, we are asking council services to deliver efficiencies of £6.738 million.

“We will also draw on £7.378 million of reserves – a position we will not be able to maintain in the years ahead – and will look to make use of fiscal flexibilities.”