Civil war in South Lanarkshire Council

A meeting - held on Monday to discuss the cuts - was boycotted by Labour councillors, who share power with the Conservatives in the council chambers.

Council officials indicated that there was a need for at least 80 million of cuts over the next three years.

But the Executive Director of Finance Linda Hardie produced proposals totalling 118 million which, according to the briefing, was to allow councillors to prioritise cuts.

However, in an e-mail to council chief executive Archie Strang council leader Eddie McAvoy called on him to withdraw the total package and, in his own words, present "realistic" figures in the vicinity of 80 million with 4 million `wriggle room'.

A total of 290 proposals were considered at Monday's meeting by the remaining councillors, aimed at cutting the councils shortfall.

The meeting boycott angered the SNP Group, the main opposition to the Labour and Conservative coalition.

A statement from the party said: "How irresponsible is that kind of behaviour when employees are worrying about their jobs, services will be cut etc.?"

And Conservative Group spokesman Graham Simpson said: "It's clear that a shocking blunder occurred here. To say that South Lanarkshire Council is in crisis is not exaggerating."

For more information on this story, pick up a copy of this week's Carluke and Lanark Gazette which is in the shops now.