PROTESTERS gathered outside Glasgow's council chambers to voice their fears over cuts as councillors meet to decide the budget.

The SNP have revealed plans to increase council tax by 3% from April as they try to deal with a £41 million spending gap.

City treasurer Allan Gow also announced a reduction in bin collections and an increase in council car parking charges.

He presented his plans to the council on Thursday.

Unions, including Unison and the GMB, met before the meeting to call for a one-year no cuts budget.

They fear for Glasgow's communities if the SNP budget is passed.

Brian Smith, from Unison, said: "We've had ten years of austerity now, services are getting poorer, communities are suffering.

READ MORE: Labour and Greens put up budget plans for Glasgow

"Today there's another rise in council tax and £22 million worth of cuts. The bulk of that being social care but also significant cuts in education and to the parks department as well.

"We're looking for the councillors to fight back, we've argued that they have the mechanisms under their control to set a one year no cuts budget."

He wants the council to work with unions during that year to secure more money for Glasgow.

Rhea Wolfson, of the GMB, said local government deserves more money from the Scottish Government.

"Glasgow has once again received a disproportionately large hit in terms of the budget.

"We are incredibly worried about the future of the state of Glasgow. Our members work in roads, they work in cleansing, they work in parks, all the things we take for granted.

"There needs to be a very serious conversation about the future of this service and whether we're genuinely going to invest in it or keep taking away.

"We're here to say Glasgow deserves better."

Funding for secondary schools was high on the protesters' agenda.

Susan Quinn, from the Educational Institute of Scotland, said: "There are announcements of around £4 million cuts to the education budget.

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"Most significantly £1 million being taken out of secondary school budgets, which will have a major impact on the poorest in our communities.

"There was no indication a budget cut was coming. Our secondary school teachers are not aware of it and have made plans based on what they've had in their budgets for the last few years.

"It's not that it's been cut or reduced, it's going all together. That has a major impact on delivering services.

"We'd like councillors to talk to us about what their plans are so they can understand the impact of the decisions they're making."

Members of the Save Whitehill Pool campaign also gathered before the meeting.

Campaigner Deborah Hamilton said: "We'd planned to be here today because initially we thought our pool was on the list for closure.

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"We've been told by the SNP and some other parties that they would not put our pool forward for proposed cuts.

"We're not just wanting our pool to stay this year, we're wanting our pool to stay for years to come.

"It needs invested in. Our pool hasn't really been touched for years. There's been some work carried out to increase disability access.

"We house a disability swimming club once a week, they wouldn't have anywhere else to go.

"Let's invest in the whole building so everyone can continue to use it. My son is learning to swim there, I want him to continue to swim there throughout his adult life."

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