INVERCLYDE is in a ‘fortunate’ position despite almost £1 million of cuts needing to be made in the next budget, says the council leader.

The council’s policy and resources committee yesterday agreed to put 13 money saving proposals out to public consultation over the next month to allow residents to help decide on how a £833,000 funding gap should be plugged.

Officers and councillors on a cross-party budget working group have put forward a list of ideas which include a reduction in some services and increased charges for others.

Just over £2m of council reserves will also be used to help minimise cuts and fees from 2017/18 onwards.

Other Scottish local authorities have announced that thousands of jobs will have to be cut and services dramatically reduced to help save millions of pounds from their respective budgets.

Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe says the district is in a much better position than its counterparts.

But he did warn that the current proposals for the 2017/18 financial year could be ‘significantly more’ than the £833k currently on the table because it all hinges on how much money the area will receive from the Scottish Government.

Officials have made a best estimate at what that figure will be but they will are expecting confirmation next month.

Cllr McCabe said: “We are in a relatively fortunate position but I wouldn’t count my chickens.” Depute leader Jim Clocherty also argued that Inverclyde is in a more favourable position than other areas and made the case for increasing council tax, which would raise around £750,000.

Cllr Clocherty said: “We need to commend our officers for their hard work and the all-party budget working group.

“There are very few councils in Scotland where elected members are looking at 13 proposals going out to the population and most of them are not ending services.

“Most of them are to do with increasing charges or putting a charge in place where there was not one before.” The committee agreed that the 13 proposals — which include cuts to free swimming and a rise in parking and burial costs — will go out to public consultation.

SNP councillor Keith Brooks, who was standing in for his absent group leader Chris McEleny, said: “The idea of consultation is a very good one.” Meetings will now be held on Wednesday 25 November in Clydeview Academy, Monday 30 in Notre Dame High, Tuesday 1 December in the Cargill Centre, Kilmacolm, and Wednesday 2 in Port Glasgow Town Hall, all starting at 7pm.

There will also be a ‘business breakfast’ in the Beacon Arts Centre on Friday 4 December from 7.30am and the final consultation event will take place on Tuesday 8 at Inverkip Primary at 7pm for people living in the village and Wemyss Bay.