Jackie Baillie has told how years of underfunding from the SNP has led to West Dunbartonshire residents facing swathes of cuts to services.

A range of possible measures has been revealed by West Dunbartonshire Council in a bid to plug a £5.5million budget gap which could increase to over £6.5million if council tax is frozen.

Some of the proposed savings options including removing school crossing patrollers, axing the Care of Garden scheme which provides lifeline support to elderly residents and a £100k reduction in school budgets.

Plans on the table also include reducing operating hours of civic amenity sites, costing up to two jobs as well as moving to a three-weekly bin collection cycle which would see three staff members on the scrapheap.

Another proposal is ditching rates relief for charities leaving non-profit organisations worse-off despite spiralling costs and limited fundraising revenue throughout the pandemic.

Members will set the budget next month following discussions with trade unions.

Jackie Baillie said: “The predicament that West Dunbartonshire Council finds itself in is as a result of 14 years of underfunding by the SNP Government.

“An area like this needs proper investment, not cuts, and certainly not ones which affect huge swathes of our community.

“Councils deliver vital local services. We need to support our people, our workforce and our communities. The SNP leadership of West Dunbartonshire Council needs to get a grip and stand up to their SNP bosses in Edinburgh to demand a fairer funding deal for our local area.”

West Dunbartonshire Labour leader Martin Rooney said: “Cutting funding to areas like ours means services and jobs are squeezed, council tax and charges are increased and more families are plunged into poverty at a time when prices for everyday essentials are going through the roof.

“The poorest will be disproportionately affected as they rely more on the services that local councils provide and end up paying a greater cost for SNP government failures.”