COUNCILLORS are being asked to put jobs and services before party politics and approve a full council tax rise in Inverclyde.

Local authority leader Stephen McCabe today urged all elected members to unite and back the maximum 4.79 per cent hike - which would generate an additional £525,000 - in order to help protect some of the 90 posts that are on the line as part of cost-cutting plans.

Mr McCabe says his own Labour group will 'reluctantly' support raising council tax by the full amount - but his SNP counterpart Chris McEleny recently ruled out his party's support for any rise above three per cent.

The remaining four independent councillors, two Tories and one Liberal Democrat have yet to reveal how they will vote, but Mr McCabe is pleading with them to spare workers from the axe.

Mr McCabe said: "Do what's best for Inverclyde, not your own political parties."

The council has been left with a funding gap of just under £3.4m for 2019/20 as a result of successive government budget reductions.

As revealed by the Tele yesterday, a £4.4m hit list of potential cuts to services and jobs plus a raft of new and increased charges has been drawn up in a bid to help balance the books.

Raising council tax by three per cent would bring in approximately £900,000 and an additional 1.79 per cent on top of that would generate a further £525,000.

The combined income of just over £1.4m from the full 4.79 per cent increase permitted by the Scottish Government would leave councillors and officials with approximately £2m worth of savings to find from the £4.4m list of options.

It would mean an annual hike of £39 - or 76p a week - for households on the lowest banding, Band A, and £145 a year, equivalent to £2.79 per week, for those at the other end of the scale on Band H.

Mr McCabe said: "If we look at a possible increase of 4.79 per cent this year in historical context, the council tax in Inverclyde didn't increase until 2018 so basically 11 years with no increase, apart from in 2017 for those in higher banded properties.

"If you look at it in weekly terms, an increase of 4.79 per cent for most people that is not necessarily going to be viewed as having a significant impact on the family budget, and a lot of people in Inverclyde do get help with their council tax.

"We're facing really tough choices and all councillors are facing up to that."