INVERCLYDE Council will receive £2.3m more than expected from the Scottish Government budget – but it still faces an overall cut of more than £4m.

Finance minister Derek Mackay yesterday announced £160m for local authorities as part of a deal struck between the SNP government and the Greens.

Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan called it a ‘positive budget to support’ while SNP council group leader Chris McEleny billed it a ‘great deal’.

The council had been facing a cut in ‘cash terms’ of nearly £6m in Mr Mackay’s draft budget, which was announced in December.

The £2.3m comes a day after the Scottish Government pledged £2.4m for 27 Inverclyde schools to help improve standards.

Mr McMillan said: “The budget provides a strong settlement for local government, including additional funding for educational attainment, increased capital resources and increased revenues from council tax.”

Cllr McEleny added: “The extra £2m for council services is great news.

“This is extra money on top of what was already announced which provided extra money for other vital services in Inverclyde such as education, health and social care.

“The Scottish Government have agreed a budget that delivers not just for our council but for the whole host of services we rely on in Inverclyde such as the NHS and the police.

“It is important now that thought is put into what the best use of this extra resource in Inverclyde will be.”

Local authority leader Stephen McCabe has also given his reaction to the news.

Councillor McCabe said: "The decision means Inverclyde Council budget will be reduced by less. While that of course is welcome the reality is that our budget is still cut by over £4.8m.

"Whatever way you look at it, this means councils cutting into service delivery or reserves to mitigate the effects of this. The council will now require to examine its position in light of this prior to the formal setting of a budget on 16th February. "