ONE of Scotland's smallest and most deprived local authorities has announced it is facing a new round of cuts, which will require savings of £7 million.

Inverclyde is to present its politicians with options to save cash worth up to £10m for 2016-17 to bridge the budget gap estimated at £7m.

The proposals will then be put out to public consultation and impact on departments delivering core frontline services.

It is the latest in a raft of announcements by councils on cuts needed for the years ahead, with several raising the very real prospect of job losses.

Glasgow City Council could need to make cuts and savings worth up to £150m in the next three years, while affluent authorities such as east Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire have gaps running into tens of millions.

Inverclyde last night said it would present cuts options from its education and communities departments in excess of £5m, social work of almost £3m and environment and regeneration of near £2m. Over the next three years, the local authority's budget gap is estimated to be above £15million.

Chief executive, John Mundell, said: "With a budget gap estimated to be around £7m for 2016-17, we have identified savings options that could generate £10m. We hope this will show residents some of the difficult decisions being faced and give them, businesses, trade union colleagues and our own employees a chance to express their views on priority areas for savings as part of the consultation.

"While the proposals set out have been developed by our own officers, the difficult decisions faced by councillors when setting the budget in February will be informed by the information we get back from the budget consultation process."