SCOTLAND’S local authorities are owed more than £140,000 in unpaid council tax by their own councillors, some of it dating back many years, it has emerged.

BBC Scotland revealed 32 councillors owed the money, enough for four teachers’ salaries.

One councillor in the Western Isles had arrears of £14,446 related to two properties.

Glasgow had the most indebted councillors, with eight owing £52,000 between them.

North Lanarkshire and Aberdeenshire each had four councillors in arrears, owing £20,000.

In response to a freedom of information request, Renfrewshire also said four of its councillors owed £14,101, most of it historic.

One councillor in East Renfrewshire owed £4355, and one in South Lanarkshire £3237.

The problem was reported in 13 of the country’s 32 councils, with six having more than one councillor in debt to the authority.

The basic salary for a councillor is £16,927, barely a quarter of the £61,778 for an MSP.

The Code of Conduct for councillors says they “must seek to avoid being in debt to the Council" but arrears do not prevent people from standing for election or staying a councillor.

However a councillor who is two months in arrears is not allowed to vote on the annual budget when council tax is set “in order to preserve public confidence that councillors are taking decisions in the general public interest".

The councils involved refused to discuss individual cases but said they would pursue councillors over debts the same way as anyone else.

Glasgow and North Lanarkshire also said their councillors had agreed payment plans.

A spokesman for Western Isles Council said: “The Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's normal debt recovery procedures are being followed. While we would never discuss individual cases, councillors in arrears are treated no differently to any other resident."