DOZENS of jobs are expected to be lost at Aberdeen City Council as part of a cost-cutting exercise by the authority.

The SNP-led council has begun a 90-day consultation period with employees and unions on an anticipated loss of 150 jobs in 2012/13.

The cuts form part of a five-year business plan by the authority which is based on an income reduction of £127 million between now and 2015/16.

Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray MSP has criticised the move and claims that First Minister Alex Salmond is reneging on a pledge he made prior to the election that there would be no compulsory redundancies in local government.

Mr Gray said: “Alex Salmond has broken yet another promise. It is a gross betrayal.

“The SNP promised categorically before the election there would be no compulsory redundancies in local government. Yet now, a few months down the line, the SNP in Aberdeen are poised to do exactly what they promised they would not.”

However, the council claimed efforts will be made to address the cuts through voluntary severance and early retirement, as well as redeployment of staff.

Council chief executive Valerie Watts said: “We will be working closely with our employees and the unions to minimise the impact of job reductions. But we must face up together to the realities of the very difficult economic climate.

“Our employees and elected members have carried out a huge amount of work to pinpoint our priorities, in consultation with our citizens.”