FUNDING for an anti-social behaviour out-of-hours service is to be cut.

The £60,000-a-year paid to police is part of a list of so-called “management adjustments”, cuts made by council bosses without approval of elected councillors.

The list is normally made public in October but has not been formally published with committee or council papers and will not be part of the budget consultation by the SNP administration.

It also includes cutting 16 jobs, reducing school and council building cleaning, and replacing milk or diluted fruit juice to school meals with water. Pupils will continue to get free milk daily at other times.

Labour councillor Danny Lennie blasted the cut to the noise complaints service. Police will still take calls but the Clydebank Waterfront member said it would mean anti-social behaviour calls would be pushed further down the priority list.

He said: “I live in a high flat. The management that put this in place have never been in a high flat. You have put the residents in danger. Everybody is going to terrorise my high flat. That is not acceptable.”

SNP finance convener Cllr Ian Dickson replied: “I think you do our citizens a great disservice by assuming they’re going to commit anti-social behaviour.”

Management adjustments were not part of the formal council meeting papers but can be requested. It made for a messy debate about draft budget calculations over what has been cut by council officers, what could be cut by councillors and how open the process has been.

When questioned by Labour what the SNP would put in place of the anti-social behaviour service, Cllr Dickson replied: “It’s a management adjustment so it’s not a council decision.

“As management adjustments, we can look at that in February. Let’s have a grown-up discussion.”

Labour Cllr Gail Casey hit back: “This is not getting consulted on.”

Cllr David McBride said: “Currently residents can phone the police and they must respond within two hours. This is a political cut and it shouldn’t be hidden away from councillors, the public and the press.

“I think our residents will think that £60,000 is excellent value for money for residents who make a noise complaint.”

Speaking after the meeting, police said they take all anti-social behaviour complaints seriously.

Inspector David Quinn said: “We treat noise complaints seriously and work with partner agencies to find a solution to them. We will of course take enforcement action when required and I would remind residents to be considerate towards their neighbours.”