Opposition councillors in Dundee have said the budget was evidence of the SNP administration’s “abject failure” to protect the people of Dundee and the council workforce.
Dundee City Council have outlined plans for over £11 million of savings that will see 200 jobs go over the next two years.
West End councillor Fraser Macpherson described the cuts detailed as “grim” and was joined by Labour group leader councillor Kevin Keenan in appealing for the Scottish Government to show mercy to the city.
Mr Macpherson said: “John Swinney is imposing massive austerity cuts on local government and Dundee’s budget has been slashed by more than £23 million, yet SNP councillors appear to be standing by and letting it happen rather than showing they have any influence with their own Government.
“I note in the administration’s proposals that there are huge cuts in roads maintenance and street lighting, the suspension of recycling improvements and charges being imposed for garden maintenance that elderly people rely on. It is all very grim indeed.
“Even at this late stage, I would call upon the Scottish Government to reconsider.”
Mr Keenan added: “There is no hiding the fact that this is the third instalment of the council cuts, now making up more than £23 million and that £10 million of those are real and hard-hitting cuts that will affect services and see people lose their jobs.
“The loss of 200 jobs is enormous.
“Were this a factory with a fraction of that number under threat the MPs in this city would be rallying to save them and the Scottish Government would be announcing a task force, yet the council can lose this many without the SNP seeming to care.”
Mr Keenan said he was also shocked by cuts to recycling and education.