West Dunbartonshire Council has been accused of planning to make damaging cuts to a service claimed to benefit thousands of the area's most vulnerable residents.

However the council, rebutting the claims, says changes to won''t lead to any redundancies, and that it is responding to welfare reforms by using resources where they are most needed.

A joint trade union report on the area's welfare rights and money advice unit – now called Working4UMoney – says the service has suffered a “drastic” reduction from 45 to 18 posts over six years, and argues many of the area's most vulnerable people will suffer as a result.

Commenting on the report, Leven Scottish Socialist Party councillor Jim Bollan said the claims amount to a “damning first hand report into the consequences of the deep cuts being proposed by the Labour council into our life saving welfare rights services.”

He said: “All the spin from the senior management that there would be no reduction in service was just that - spin.

“At a time when the Tories are cutting jobs and services and freezing people's income and benefits we should be investing more in this vital service, not cutting it to the bone. Shame on Labour for abandoning those most in need.”

It says Working4UMoney is the only service visiting people unable to make office appointments because of mental or physical disability.

The report adds: “Through its work the team continue to challenge child poverty, fuel poverty and inequalities in health which are inherent within West Dunbartonshire – it is therefore questionable how this excellent service will continue to be maintained with a further reduction in staff.”

It's claimed there is a plan to cut two welfare rights and debt counsellor posts which will reduce the number of vulnerable people assisted, and impact on their physical and mental health, “at a time of unprecedented changes to the welfare system”.

It's also argued that what it sees as a poorly devised shakeup of the service will exclude people who are unfit for work and furthest from the jobs market.

But the council says its review of the service reflects the need to adapt efficiently to new circumstances.

The authority's spokesperson said: “Welfare reforms have led to a change in demand for elements of the service.

Working4U is being reviewed in response to these changing demands from our community so that our resources are in place where residents need them most.

“We are confident our team will continue to deliver the high-quality support our local residents require.”