Aberdeenshire Council faces £35m funding deficit

Millions of pounds in savings are required by the council

Aberdeenshire Council officials have said the authority needs to find more than £17m ($21m) in savings as part of its annual budget.

It is part of a package of measures drawn up to tackle a deficit put at £35m.

In a report issued ahead of the council's budget meeting, officials have listed a string of potential departmental cuts.

They include reducing roads maintenance, scrapping school crossing patrols, and closing vacant posts.

To close the deficit, another £18m would need to be found across the council.

This would come from a range of measures including policy changes in council tax and business rates, staff taking voluntary severance, transformation of the council's operations and a £7m reduction in borrowing for capital spending projects.

However, the report's authors said Aberdeenshire's budget could be balanced without the need to dip into reserves.

Council tax is expected to be frozen, following an earlier commitment from the Scottish government.