RESIDENTS in north-west Glasgow are facing their first council tax rise in 12 years as the local authority desperately tries to plug a spending gap of almost £70 million.

Glasgow City Council leader Frank McAveety said the three per cent increase would raise more than £7m, but leave another £60m budget hole.

The final decision on council tax will be taken by councillors next month. West Dunbartonshire Council predicted last month it too would raise tax by three per cent.

Cllr McAveety said: “Raising council tax will support frontline services while protecting the most vulnerable in our city.

“One-in-four households will not pay a penny more and we can avoid around £7m of the most difficult cuts, which would otherwise hit every community across the city “The Scottish Government’s huge cuts to local government mean Glasgow is facing a £67m funding gap next year. The total budget cuts between 2016/17 and 2017/18 now amount to £150m."

The council said its budget gap was made up of a £36.4m reduction in the city’s settlement from the Scottish Government and £30.4m of other spending pressures, reported our sister paper the Evening Times.

A council spokesman said around 71,000 households currently qualify for full council tax Reduction, 18,000 qualify for a partial reduction and 138,000 receive a single person discount.