Millions of pounds in cuts to services in Dumbarton and the Vale have been halted by the council’s SNP administration.

In the surprise move, the councillors scrapped their own promised consultation on cuts – including bin collections once every three weeks and closing Dalmuir Golf Course - because those would not be necessary.

West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) was facing more than £4 million in potential cuts despite extra cash from the Scottish Government.

At last week’s full council meeting, the SNP set council tax to rise in West Dunbartonshire by 3 per cent next year.

But the full budget won’t be presented until March 27 and the ruling party didn’t explain where the money would come from and said £2.4m in so-called management adjustments would still go ahead.

Read more: West Dunbartonshire Council needs to find £4 million to save in next month

Labour proposed their own version of spending cuts and management adjustments, offering to bridge a £6.412m budget gap by using up the Vale of Leven fire insurance fund, reserves and changing the approach to capital receipts collected from sales of assets such as land.

They projected there would be £3.341m left for future years.

But the main fight between both parties was about whether council leader Jonathan McColl actually met with Scottish finance secretary Derek Mackay.

Labour councillors pointed out an SNP motion at the last council meeting in December said Cllr McColl would be having “high level discussions” with the government.

In the Scottish Parliament earlier this month, Jackie Baillie MSP was told they had not met to discuss the budget in the last six weeks.

But Cllr McColl said they met at the Millennium Hotel on December 20 and had subsequent phone calls. The meeting was as SNP members, not official government business.

Read more: West Dunbartonshire backs calls for major increase in funding

He said: “As a result of those meetings, the council got an extra £1.57m. It might be inconceivable for the Labour party, but that’s just the way it is.”

And he hit out at Labour saying “unlike the former council leader, I don’t need my hands held by officers”.

Labour councillor Douglas McAllister said: “The management adjustments resulted in the closure of nursery classes across West Dunbartonshire. There is no requirement to take them.

“I’m disappointed that we are supposed to accept private discussions.

“Phone calls to his pals are not official government meetings. Someone is not telling the truth.”

And colleague Councillor David McBride warned of communities “suffering daily”.

SNP councillor Ian Dickson said: “I think Cllr McBride is just upset about us getting more money. I will take no lessons from the Labour group. They’re just draining every penny left and putting [the budget gap] to next year.”

SNP and Labour members voted for their own motions, with Bailie Denis Agnew backing the successful SNP motion and Community Party councillor Jim Bollan backing Labour.

Conservative councillor Sally Page – who was blasted later in the meeting for Tory austerity at Westminster while she blamed Holyrood’s funding of councils – abstained on the council tax vote.