Council services in Scotland are at “absolute breaking point” and may have to stop altogether after funding concerns were not addressed by the Scottish Budget, local authority leaders have warned.

John Swinney set out the Scottish Government’s fiscal plans on Thursday, having stated “very hard choices” were required.

COSLA, the body representing councils in Scotland, in the lead-up to the announcement, launched an SOS (Save our Services) campaign which highlighted a £1bn funding gap.

The deputy first minister told MSPs that councils will be given full flexibility to set tax rates for their local authority areas, though urged them to “carefully consider” the cost pressures facing the public.

A cash increase as part of the local government settlement was presented as £498m.

However, council leaders say that after Scottish Government policy commitments are accounted for, it amounts to an increase of only £71m.

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