An extra £5.6 million for Aberdeen City Council has been dismissed as smoke and mirrors by finance convener Willie Young.

The funds have come after an eleventh-hour agreement between the SNP and Scottish Greens to freeze income tax rates.

But Cllr Young said the city was still facing millions in cuts and needed extra help from the Scottish Government.

He said: “As far as we’re concerned this is all smoke and mirrors.

“The big problem is, regardless of this extra and welcome cash, we’re still looking at unpalatable cuts of about £25m.

“I want to make sure we’re protecting jobs and protecting council services like street-cleaning, as well as helping grow the economy.”

Cllr Young said Finance Secretary Derek Mackay was to hold further talks on business rate increases early next week.

He said: “Mr Mackay had the opportunity to help us on business rates and we’re hoping when we speak to him next week he will be able to do so.

“The cash announced gives £12m to Edinburgh and £19m to Glasgow but only £5m to Aberdeen, so hopefully there is scope there for something to mitigate business rate increases for the North-east economy.

“If we use the cash that was just announced to cover business rate increases, it means cuts to council services will be even worse. Mr Mackay needs to dig a wee bitty deeper.”

Mr Mackay did not comment on business rates but said he thought the decision to free up extra funds was fair.

He said: “These proposals balance the need to raise additional revenues, while asking the highest earners to forego a significant tax cut at a time of UK Government austerity.”

Scottish Green Party co-convener Maggie Chapman, who is also the University of Aberdeen rector, was proud of the agreement.

She said: “This is the biggest budget concession in Holyrood’s history.”