OPPOSITION councillors at Newtown St Boswells are demanding core public services are restored and protected in next year's budget.

But the SNP and Lib-Dems are backing administration's plans for the maximum allowed hike in council tax.

Tabling an alternative budget yesterday, SNP group leader Stuart Bell called for school librarians to be reinstated and investment in CCTV.

He said: "We’re not just sniping from the side lines.

"For a third time, we have offered the people of the Borders a choice.

"It’s our responsibility to listen to what people are saying and get this Tory led administration to take notice.

"Our alternative budget invests in our roads, our schools, our older people.

"We are also protecting core public services, like public toilets and Sunday bus services, and reinstating our school librarians, our CAB services and our CCTV provision."

The opposition's alternative budget, which would include the maximum 4.84 percent council tax hike, also factors in funding for replacement secondaries to be built in Galashiels, Hawick and Peebles within the next six years.

And they also guarantee that the planned new primary schools for Eyemouth and Earlston would be delivered within four years.

Lib Dem councillor Euan Robson stated: "Improvements are needed in the education service especially in reducing the attainment gap between the least and most deprived young people in the Borders.

"We welcome the Scottish Government’s substantial and continued investment in free nursery and childcare provision, along with extra funding for additional support for learning.

"We will be calling for a detailed report to ensure these resources are spent wisely and drive change. We want to see a focus on early intervention to meet children’s needs with robust plans which include making sure that our private sector partners are fully and properly supported.

"We are also reinstating the high school librarians because we know that fully qualified librarians improve performance across the whole school and open up opportunities for our young people.”

The alternative spending plans will be tabled at next month's meeting of Scottish Borders Council.