UP to 130 full-time posts are to be scrapped at Scottish Borders Council as it seeks to achieve revenue cuts of around £11m over the next financial year.

That savings target confirmed today is, says leader David Parker, the result of a reduced local government settlement from the Scottish Government and the freezing of Council Tax for a ninth successive year.

At a media briefing this morning, Councillor Parker unveiled a revenue budget of £262.3m on behalf of his ruling Independent/SNP/Lib Dem administration.

It is due to be ratified by the full council next Thursday.

He said his council, despite “considerable financial challenges”, was in a better position than most Scottish local authorities as a result of the ongoing efficiencies it had achieved by transforming its structure and the way it did business.

But he said an impact on staffing levels was “inevitable”.

Around 48 of the jobs destined for the chop are in management and administrative grades across the council, while another 40 will be additional needs assistants (ANAs) in the region’s schools, following a comprehensive review of that service.

Mr Parker said that many of the posts to be axed were already unfilled as his council had been preparing for potential staff reductions.

“Alongside a 9.77 per cent natural staff turnover, we will be able to have a managed workforce reduction, thus minimising the need for compulsory redundancies,” he said. “We must remain focused on delivering high quality services.”

Councillor Michelle Ballantyne, leader of the opposition Conservative group at Newtown, said her group would support the administration’s budget with the notable exception of the £3.5m of capital funding – repayable at £208,000 a year over 30 years from revenue - allocated to bring the Great Tapestry of Scotland to Tweedbank.

“As a group will be supporting the vast majority of this budget, including the Council Tax freeze,” said Mrs Ballantyne.

“However, while we appreciate that the council’s hands are tied and local decision making is being compromised by the Scottish Government, at a time when cuts are being made and jobs shed, we cannot accept the tapestry spending is justified.”