INVERCLYDE Council could be forced to make cuts of up to £8 million in only two years.

Council leader Stephen McCabe has warned the local authority will have to accelerate its savings programme from March 2016 in a bid to address a looming gap in funds.

At this time council officials are predicting cuts of £6.4m from 2016 to 2018 — with significant savings likely to be made in ‘unprotected’ budgets.

But they are factoring in an additional £2m to take account of uncertainty over central funding from the Scottish Government, and to give more flexibility to the council.

Speaking at a recent policy and resources committee meeting, Councillor McCabe said: “When you consider that we have had to make nearly £15 million worth of efficiency savings in seven years then it does raise the question about how difficult it will be to find such a large amount in only two years.

“We do hope to find ways to reduce the savings while also addressing the impacts of welfare reforms.

“The scale of all this is going to be very challenging for the council. I think £6.4 million is more palatable than £8m.

“We face a significant challenge and I would urge all parties in the council to work together to find a way forward.” In a report to the committee, councillors were told that there are a number of funding issues that still need to be clarified with the Scottish Government.

But with Scottish Parliament elections looming next year, it’s expected that no decisions on funding from Edinburgh will be made until after May 2016.

As they prepare for the next round of cuts, council officials will draw up potential savings of up to £8m to give elected members some degree of flexibility with regards to the tough choices that will have to be made.

A budget working group of councillors will be asked to indicate any services they consider ‘no-go areas’ for cuts.

But senior management figures have warned elected members that there will be significant reductions in ‘unprotected’ budgets.