COUNCILS across Scotland have confirmed hundreds of job cuts as cash-strapped local authorities set their annual budgets.

Angus Council announced 155 full time posts would be lost as it attempts to save £10 million while Falkirk revealed it would be forced to slash its full-time workforce by 256.

Around 80 jobs are at risk in the Western Isles, with trade union Unison warning £3m every year is being lost to the local economy as the result of council redundancies.

And North Ayrshire has this week confirmed around 40 job losses. 

The budget report for Falkirk Council said: "Given the current financial position, it has been necessary to consider options which include further reductions in workforce spend.

"This is inevitable, with a projected budget gap of £25m in 2016/17 and spend on workforce costs equating to 60 per cent of the council's budget."

The announcements come one week after all 32 Scottish local authorities accepted a Scottish government funding deal worth £10.3bn.

Many said they agreed the deal with Finance Secretary John Swinney reluctantly amid claims the council tax freeze will cost local authorities £484m and thousands of jobs.

The GMB union has revealed it a raft of protests against cuts and jobs losses will take place across Scotland.

The union has also released a report showing that, had council tax kept pace with inflation since 2007, Scottish councils would raise £484m in additional income for 2016-17.

Senior GMB officials and Labour Holyrood candidate Richard Leonard said: "SNP Government ministers need to take their heads out of the sand about the devastating impact of the cuts they are making on essential local services right across Scotland.

"For John Swinney to describe that as 'minimal' is simply insulting to every local government worker and every local community in Scotland."

But one local authority has performed a U-turn on plans to axe up to 200 job as well as a raft of unpopular cuts following a public outcry.

South Lanarkshire Council said it was able to continue funding under-threat services for the next 12 months due to an underspend in some areas last year and increased council tax collection rates.

Leader Eddie McAvoy said: “Like all councils, we still face significant budget pressures because our Scottish Government grant has been cut.

"However, current arrangements for free buses to school will continue this year. I regard any change to these arrangements as being off the agenda for the foreseeable future.”