Highland Council has launched a public consultation as it prepares to cut £30m from its budget over the next two years.

The local authority is running a three-month consultation to gather suggestions and views on proposed cuts.

A report on the proposed cuts will be brought before councillors in December.

The savings required by the council in 2013/14 and 2014/15 are £29.7m. Already agreed are savings of £17.8m, leaving a gap of £11.9m.

Council leader Drew Hendry said: “The assistance we received from the public two years ago was invaluable and therefore we intend to build on this success in repeating the exercise.

“The financial environment looks challenging even beyond the next two financial years so the consultation will also assist in our longer term budget planning.”

He added: “The assistance we received from the public two years ago was invaluable and therefore we intend to build on this success in repeating the exercise. The financial environment looks challenging even beyond the next two financial years so the consultation will also assist in our longer term budget planning.”

Leading the consultation is councillor Dave Fallows, chairman of the finance, housing and resources Committee. He recalled the success of a similar budget consultation in 2010 when the comments of the public helped the council agree a package of savings for three years totalling £55m.

The public had told the council it needed to look at income generation, management costs and making the best use of its assets.

The council had since introduced advertising in council publications and on its website, reduced management costs by £1.3m and transferred the running of culture and leisure services to a not-for-profit organisation - High Life Highland.

The council had also moved to fortnightly bin collections and reduced costs on street lighting through dimming and off-peak switch off of lights.

He said: “Following the close of our consultation, all comments will be collated and analysed. The findings will be considered and firm budget proposals will be developed.

"Some of these proposals will be considered when the council meets in December and the final proposals at a meeting of the council in February, next year. We will assess any proposals for the impact they may have on different groups within our community.”