SCOTTISH council bureaucrats were accused of being “spineless” today after launching a cuts consultation.

North Lanarkshire Council began a survey of the public’s budget priorities with questions such as: “What services would you consider paying for/paying more for?”

But North Lanarkshire Trades Council (NLTUC) chairman Ben Lunn warned: “Though this is being shared with us in a way which appears democratic, it couldn’t be further from the truth.

“If we participate in this, we are giving them a free pass to destroy our already fragile communities.”

Mr Lunn blamed “cuts obsessed” governments in Holyrood and Westminster for North Lanarkshire’s £60 million budget gap over the next three years, but challenged council leaders to act.

He said: “Due to the lack of vertebrae which would constitute a spine, the council are not fighting for the communities, but instead acting as debt collectors.

“This is why these cuts cannot be allowed to pass, and why we will continue to take our fight to the council.”

A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said:  “We regularly engage with the public around their priorities which helps to shape and plan service provision.”