West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) took the step to stop the practice when it met last week following complaints during the independence referendum.

According to a report by Angela Wilson, executive director of corporate services, campaign material was nailed to trees, placed too close to polling stations, and rows broke out over accusations of tampering.

Speaking at last week’s full meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council councillor William Hendrie (SNP) branded the report “a complete joke” and said banning posters was a “kick in the teeth to democracy”.

In her report, Mrs Wilson said: “In recent years there has been an increase in the number of complaints received from members of the public about election campaign posters.” “Prohibiting the use of election materials such as this would lead to a reduction in the amount of paper, plastic and cardboard used by parties, leading to a reduction in the amount of litter over the course of an election campaign. It has also been suggested that the absence of such posters provides less of a distraction to motorists and pedestrians, potentially improving road safety.

“There are costs associated with officer time spent dealing with complaints and additional staff and transport costs in relation to the removal of offending posters on the day of the poll which would reduce if the council agrees to prohibit posters being displayed on council property.” Most of the issues reported were raised during the independence referendum in September when posters were posted too close to polling stations in breach of the rules.

There were also complaints that one campaign group was removing the other campaign’s posters or turning them to face away from the road in Dumbarton.

The Greenspace Team reported that some posters were still fixed to lampposts one month after the referendum and consequently the election office had to have these removed.

The report continued: “Allowing election posters on council property has an adverse impact on the council’s zero tolerance on fly posting, as members of the public often question why political parties can display posters on council property but others cannot.” Cllr Hendrie said: “This is the poorest report I’ve ever seen.” He said it had no figures to back up the claims that it cost money or there had been complaints.

He added: “For people to actually support this is a joke and a kick in the teeth to democracy.” He was criticised by Provost Douglas McAllister and chief executive Joyce White for his comments which they said should have been brought up privately.

However, Cllr Hendrie stressed he was criticising the report, not Mrs Wilson.

Leader of the opposition Jonathan McColl put forward an amendment against the ban “in the interests of democracy”.

He said campaign posters helped boost turnout, increase political engagement and generate public debate.

He added: “The report is a joke. There is not a single fact or figure of evidence in it.” The Provost said it took 30 staff hours to remove the posters.

The amendment was voted down by six to 12 in favour of the ban which brings the council in line with 23 other local authorities across Scotland.

The ban prohibits campaign materials from being posted on council-owned lighting columns, traffic sign poles or street furniture.

Power poles or bus shelters situated on road verges or other areas owned or adopted by the council are also part of the ban which includes buildings and parks regardless of whether they are owned, leased or adopted by the authority.

However, WDC tenants will still be able to display campaign posters in their homes and on their windows.