COUNCIL tax bills in Renfrewshire will rise by 1.9% - the lowest increase for seven years.

Councillors were due to meet today to rubber stamp the increase, which will see Band D bills rise from £1143 to £1164.69.

Unhappy residents were hit with a 5% hike last year but officials have now backed plans to peg bills below inflation.

Council officials have pledged there will be no job losses or cuts to front line services this year to subsidise the move.

Tenants will face a 2.5% increase in rents after voting to reject plans for a housing stock transfer last year.

Councillor John Kenny, the council's finance spokesman, said: "We have done everything possible to reduce costs and introduce further efficiency savings so that we can limit the impact of council tax rises."

Meanwhile, residents in East Renfrewshire face an increase of between 1.9% and 2.4% next week.

The Band D figure for the authority, which is home to some of the best performing schools in the country, is currently £1105.

Councillors will meet next Thursday to decide the revised figure.

Last week, the Evening Times revealed Glasgow City Council planned to freeze its council tax for the second year in a row.

The decision means the charge for the average band D property in the city will remain at £1213, plus water charges.

Council leader Steven Purcell revealed the decision after Labour's ruling group met to agree their budget for the year from May, ahead of an official council meeting next week.