INVERCLYDE Council is to delay setting its new budget for the first time in its history.

The local authority announced the decision today, amid ongoing uncertainty over future Scottish Government funding.

The council had been due to set out its plans for 2016/18 on Thursday February 18 but the decision will now be delayed until March.

Council leader Stephen McCabe said: “We are expected to be able to balance our budget for the next financial year without the need for any new budget savings or service reductions beyond anything already in place.

"However there is an estimated funding gap of almost £4 million for the following year and there is still uncertainty around the settlement from the Scottish Government.

"On that basis it is only right that we give ourselves more time to consider the options before making any decisions.”

The amount of grant from the Scottish Government has been reduced by £6.6 million - £4.2 million beyond what was originally expected when the council launched its budget consultation process.

Mr McCabe added: “We are working together with our trade union colleagues and all elected members through the cross-party Members’ Budget Working Group to protect jobs and services as best we can. This is proving extremely challenging in the face of the extra cut from the Scottish Government.”