A PACKAGE the SNP claims will “protect vital public services” will instead put councils on a “cliff edge” with more cuts and job losses, unions and council leaders warned yesterday.

Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay announced that local government funding would rise by more than £210 million, with overall Scottish government support to local authorities at £11.1 billion.

“The Scottish government has continued to ensure that our partners in local government receive a fair funding settlement despite further cuts to the Scottish Budget from the UK government,” Mr Mackay said.

But Unison Scotland local government chairman Mark Ferguson told the Star: “This year’s settlement is still less than [councils] and Audit Scotland say is necessary to maintain vital local services. We will see further cuts to services and jobs.

“Local government has borne the brunt of 10 years of  austerity.

“The Scottish government could have used its tax powers to maintain essential public services. Unison will continue to campaign for local government services, and those who deliver them.”

The package includes core council funding and cash from other areas. But councils umbrella body Cosla said that due to money already committed and ring-fencing, both core capital and revenue budgets have been cut.

Cosla resources spokeswoman Gail Macgregor said: "This is bad news for communities — the impact on jobs and services is significant.

"If this settlement is not changed, it will mean substantial job losses in places where local government is the main employer.

"Without meaningful movement on the basic settlement and proper discussions around enabling local government to raise more locally, I fear we are running towards a cliff edge."