DUMBARTON and the Vale is set to benefit from an extra £2 million funding windfall from the Scottish Government.

The Green party joined forces with the SNP to approve the first of phase of their Budget Bill, which included a further £2.7m for West Dunbartonshire, with the second phase due to come before Holyrood's finance committee today.

West Dunbartonshire Greens welcomed the deal to secure £160million of additional funds from the Scottish Government for local council services such as schools and social care.

Following discussions with Green MSPs over the draft Scottish budget, Scottish Ministers also agreed to abandon their proposed tax giveaway for high earners.

Ross Greer, Green MSP for the West of Scotland, added: "This will avoid more classroom assistants and care workers being cut, local services reduced and charges increased.

“This is, however, only the start of a journey towards genuinely progressive tax policies and empowered local councils and communities.”

Jamie Greene MSP said: “This budget will slash revenue funding by £3.2 million and place a £1 million tax burden on the shoulders of working men and women by raising council taxes. This will hit 7,000 homes in West Dunbartonshire and squeeze household budgets.”

“At the first opportunity to use Holyrood’s new tax powers the SNP, propped up by the Greens, decide to make Scotland the highest tax part of the UK.

“This budget was put together by the pro-independence parties and paints a clear picture of their vision of an independent Scotland looks like: high taxes, a growing deficit and low growth. I cannot support such a vision.”

A spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council said: “A report will be presented to Council outlining how this new money affects the Council’s budget position.”