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| Highland Council seeks agreement on budget | |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Highland councillors are debating the coming year's budget. | |
| The local authority's ruling administration, which is made up of independent councillors, has proposed more than £29m of savings. | The local authority's ruling administration, which is made up of independent councillors, has proposed more than £29m of savings. |
| SNP councillors have said they would oppose any cuts in funding to services supporting vulnerable people. | SNP councillors have said they would oppose any cuts in funding to services supporting vulnerable people. |
| But the independents said savings had been forced on the authority, in part because of the council tax freeze. | But the independents said savings had been forced on the authority, in part because of the council tax freeze. |
| Earlier this month, all 32 local authorities in Scotland accepted the Scottish government's funding deal worth £10.3bn. | Earlier this month, all 32 local authorities in Scotland accepted the Scottish government's funding deal worth £10.3bn. |
| Many did so reluctantly, claiming the continued council tax freeze would lead to severe pressure on budgets | Many did so reluctantly, claiming the continued council tax freeze would lead to severe pressure on budgets |
| Highland Council's leader Margaret Davidson said not being able to raise funds from a tax increase would result in jobs cuts and some services being axed. | Highland Council's leader Margaret Davidson said not being able to raise funds from a tax increase would result in jobs cuts and some services being axed. |
| Bill Fernie, the council's budget leader, said the local authority had to deal with "unprecedented challenges" in setting a balanced budget. | Bill Fernie, the council's budget leader, said the local authority had to deal with "unprecedented challenges" in setting a balanced budget. |
| Unison, which represents many of Highland's employees, said the cuts proposed could result in more than 600 posts being lost. | Unison, which represents many of Highland's employees, said the cuts proposed could result in more than 600 posts being lost. |
| About 800 staff have expressed interest in taking voluntary redundancy packages. | About 800 staff have expressed interest in taking voluntary redundancy packages. |