Council bends to Swinney's budget offer

COUNCIL leaders have agreed to accept the Scottish Government's budget offer.

Under finance secretary John Swinney's proposal, the council was given the option of accepting a cut in its funding of around three per cent if it pledged to carry out a number of government objectives, or face a much more savage cut.

Councillor Ricky Henderson, finance spokesman for the Labour group on the council, said: "This year's local government settlement is an attack on democracy as well as an attack on local authorities."

And council leader Jenny Dawe said: "At the end of the day, we all agree we are faced with a situation where we have no choice but a letter (of acceptance] to John Swinney."

She said that the offer was "considerably better" than the original offer before talks had taken place between the Scottish Government and the Cosla all-party working group.