Local councils have warned the government that budget cuts are “seriously harming communities”.

They have called for an increase in local government funding in the upcoming Scottish Budget, arguing they have “no options left” if they had to make any more savings.

The council umbrella body COSLA has written a briefing document outlining its budget demands, including its want to ditch the 3% cap on council tax.

Their report also warns that councils need an extra £549 million “just to stand still”.

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It warns: “There is no room left for manoeuvre. There must be financial support for local government in the 2019/20 budget.

“If not, essential services will be at risk resulting in a detrimental impact on our shared ambition of inclusive growth.”

Any financial threat to council budgets puts communities at risk, as well as local economies and the wider Scottish economy, the report adds.

However, the Scottish Government said local government has been treated “very fairly”.

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Cosla president, Councillor Alison Evison, said: “Councils have made necessary and significant savings but there are now no options left.

“We cannot be made to cut our essential services without it having a wider, detrimental impact upon our communities.

“We have no capacity to take on additional initiatives, however beneficial the outcomes would be to our communities, unless the financial settlement is increased accordingly.

“I am calling on the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy & Fair Work to make sure this budget invests in local government so that together we can deliver inclusive growth for communities across Scotland.”