THE Scottish Government has today defended the budget offer it made to Inverclyde Council.

The Tele reported yesterday how local authority leader Stephen McCabe had branded it 'draconian' and revealed that he was looking into the possibility of a legal challenge over possible sanctions that could be imposed by ministers in the event of no deal being struck.

Mr McCabe says he and counterparts in other districts are exploring whether they could seek a judicial review over this matter.

But the government insists the deal on the table is fair.

A spokeswoman said: “While we have not yet received any formal notification of Inverclyde’s decision on the settlement offer, we remain committed to a positive, collaborative working relationship with all of Scotland’s local authorities, including Inverclyde, and have already extended the deadline for councils to respond in order to allow them to fully examine the proposal.

“Our offer allows the opportunity to transform the provision of social care in Scotland with a £250 million investment in integrating health and social care services – helping to make our services fit for the challenges of the 21st century."

She added: “We recognise the pressures on budgets across the whole of the public sector, and in households throughout Scotland, which is why it is important to maintain the council tax freeze while we consider ways to replace it, as well as reimbursing Inverclyde and all other local authorities to ensure they can continue to provide essential services.

"The freeze, if continued for 2016-17 will have saved the average band D household around £1,550, while recent independent research found that the Scottish Government has actually over-funded the council tax freeze to this point.”