There is concern that cutbacks to Highland Council's winter road maintenance spending including the reduction of 12 gritting lorries, could increase the risk of accidents in years to come.

It is also planned to cut precautionary evening gritting on certain roads as part of the authority's plans to save £55m over four years.

The council tax freeze continues, but a package of savings totally £42.8 million has now been agreed and the balance will still have to be found in future years.

The cuts are to be phased over four years, with £17.4 million savings in 2015/16 including a reduction of £360,000 on winter road maintenance. The measure is projected to save £600,00 over the four years.

Lochaber councillor Alan Henderson was one of several independent opposition councillors to raise concerns. He said that people in local communities had made clear the importance they attached to preparing roads to withstand snow and ice.

"Over the years the council has built up an extremely sophisticated sensor system in the Highlands. They know when to go out to salt and sand the area. Do the public know that? They don't have a clue whether to go out in the glens."

He said that by reducing the winter road maintenance budget "we are talking about community disempowerment."

But Graham MacKenzie , chair of the community services committee. said the council was not getting rid of the 12 gritting lorries immediately "What we are doing is reviewing our fleet and many of our vehicles are coming to the end of the their natural life. In replacing them we are going to go for bigger vehicles with enhanced capacity allowing them to travel further before returning to the depot."

He said that precautionary gritting move had been taken on the advice of experts, but he reassured councillor "If there is an emergency need, we will move heaven and earth to get there and that decision can be taken at a local level."

Meanwhile there are to be increases to the cost of school meals, burials and car parking. It is feared some local museums could be forced to shut in the face of grant funding cuts.

The council agreed its budget of 2015/216 and an indicative budget for the succeeding three years which may yet be "tweaked."

Cuts of £10.2 million have been earmarked for 2016/17, £6.3 million in 2017/18 and £8.9 million in 2018/19. The total impact on staff will be a reduction in 312 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) posts over the four years, including the equivalent of 60 teachers.

SNP Easter Ross councillor Maxine Smith, the budget leader was praised for her inclusive approach to the budget. She had ensured that the SNP/LibDem/Labour coalition administration had negotiated with the opposition councillors prior to the meeting.

Ms Smith said "As a council, we must deliver a balanced budget and by setting it over the four years we have provided a framework for future planning, in which officers can work and be proactive. It offers more certainty and allows flexibility to make small changes where necessary, whilst being able to concentrate on delivering the main savings."