A SENIOR SNP councillor blasted back at claims a council tax freeze deal is a 'pre-election bribe'.

Elizabeth Robertson, leader of the party's Inverclyde Council ranks, has said her team will back freezing the levy for the next year.

It comes after local authority leader Stephen McCabe recently branded the budget measure announced by the government as a pre-poll stunt.

Finance minister Kate Forbes offered up extra funding providing elected members abandon a planned three per cent hike.

Mr McCabe reacted by saying that ministers in Edinburgh are 'putting a gun to the head of the council' and has stated that a freeze would be of 'marginal' benefit to the people of Inverclyde.

But Cllr Robertson insists the move will make a huge difference to residents who have struggled to make ends meet during the coronavirus pandemic.

She said: "I cannot speak for the Scottish Government on what their motives behind this were, but it just feels to me as though they understand people are under the cosh and they’ve been hit hard this year financially.

"People are struggling and this is a measure that can make a difference.

"We will be supporting a recommendation for a freeze.

"The funding from the Scottish Government is welcome."

Back in December, elected members agreed in principle to hike council tax by three per cent in each of the next two financial years in order to plug a funding gap of around £2m.

But next week councillors will be asked to decide whether to implement a freeze and access Inverclyde's allocated government grant of just under £1.2m.

However, the Scottish Government has not yet outlined whether this funding will be made available in subsequent years.

The Convention for Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) is seeking clarification on this point to allow councils to plan their finances beyond next year.

Cllr Robertson says she's asked the government directly whether extra money will be incorporated into the council's allocation in the future.

She added: “I have asked Kate Forbes whether this will adjust our baseline budget in the coming years or whether this is intended as a one-off.

"I want to do the best by the people of Inverclyde and my job is to make sure we can provide top-notch services, and having more weaponry in our arsenal will help us to do that."