The level of cuts expected by Glasgow City Council has reduced considerably after the Scottish Government budget allocations.

The level of anticipated cuts has been reduced by more than £28m.

Last month the Glasgow Times reported how finance officials at the City Chambers were expecting a budget shortfall of more than £36m in the next financial year. Over the next three years it was anticipated to be more than £110m.

However, the projections for the coming year have changed as they were based on an estimate of the council's grant from the Scottish Government, where the bulk of its income is from.

Finance officials have revised the forecast to show a reduced, but not insignificant spending gap for 2020/21.

It also includes cash the council will get in population share from agreeing to freeze the council tax.

The assumptions, following the Scottish budget, announced by Finance secretary Kate Forbes, last month now show a gap of £7.9m.

The city is still facing almost £8m worth of cuts that will affect services on top of several years of cutbacks.

Officers said it is mostly due to an increase in government grant, combined with extra funding to freeze Council Tax partly offset by some additional costs.

The council is expected to agree to move back its own budget date to March 11 from February 18 to allow the Scottish Government draft budget to be passed on March 9.

The City Council’s Executive Director of Finance, Martin Booth, has written a report for councillors on the new projections.

He said the Scottish Government settlement has increased by £8.3m compared to last year.

It also includes increased funding for Early Learning and childcare of £6.1m and Health and social care of £7.6m.

The city’s share of the council tax freeze money is £9.7 million, which would have need a tax rise of above 4% to raise.

Mr Booth’s report has been sent to the council’s cross party budget working group.

In it he states: “The Scottish Government have indicated that they will provide funding to compensate local authorities who choose to apply a council tax freeze. 

“The sum allocated to Glasgow is £9.7 million.  For Glasgow to raise this sum a 4.2% increase would need to be applied to the current council tax charge. 

“For the purpose of updating the Financial Forecast it is assumed that members will approve a council tax freeze as part of the Budget.”