OUTGOING Inverclyde Council chief executive John Mundell has warned it will be harder to protect local services from cuts in future.

The Municipal Buildings boss pulled no punches as he told councillors that times will be very tough in the years ahead, despite finding savings over the last few years.

He also warned that because large parts of the council’s budget are ringfenced by the Scottish Government, the brunt of savings will fall on other services.

Mr Mundell spoke out as council leader Stephen McCabe and the SNP’s group leader Chris McEleny clashed over the Scottish Government’s £6m cut in Inverclyde Council’s budget.

The chief executive said: “Our budget has been reduced from £240 million to £190 million already. 

“We are looking at a further cut of £22.5 million, this will put the council under severe pressure. We are talking about 70 per cent of the budget from the Scottish Government being protected – this makes it harder to decide how we deal with the budget savings.

“It leaves no room to decide how we deal with the budget savings required.”

During the policy and resources committee meeting the SNP’s Cllr McEleny sparked a fiery debate by highlighting a £6m underspend in the local authority budget, revealed last week by the Tele.

He said: “The Scottish Government’s settlement was described by the council as ‘draconian’.

“In light of a six million pound underspend this year, would this still be described as draconian?”

Mr McCabe fired back: “I think the continued freeze on council tax is draconian.

“Our chief financial officer has explained that the underspend will be used to to address the budgets in 2016/18 and the proposed savings needed.”

Mr McCabe’s deputy, Councillor Jim Clocherty, added: “What is draconian is that we are becoming a satellite administration for the Scottish Government with all the ring fencing.” 

The financial headache facing the authority will soon be the concern of a new chief executive, with Mr Mundell set to step down next month after over a decade in charge.

A shortlist panel has met to discuss candidates who have applied for the £117,000-a-year post, with interviews expected to be held soon.