Councils are facing cuts of £300million next year, according to Labour.

Finance Secretary John Swinney will set out the £11.8billion split on Wednesday that Scotland's 32 councils will each get as part of next year's Budget.

But as public spending tightens, Labour say responses to a Freedom of Information request reveals cuts of almost £300million across councils in 2010/11.

The Government say councils are being asked to make efficiency savings - not cuts - and these will be reinvested in frontline services.

But Labour local government spokesman Michael McMahon said: "Councils are being forced to make cuts in core areas such as education, social work, library provision and road repairs.

"The responses to our Freedom of Information requests show that every community in Scotland will suffer because the SNP have done a deal with the Tories to launch the biggest assault on local services since Thatcher.

"Let's not forget that this is happening at a time when the Scottish Government has nearly £1billion more to spend than last year and greater resources than any previous administration."

Labour's figures indicate that cuts are planned in the number of teachers, classroom assistants, janitors, workshop technicians and cleaning staff.

Library opening hours, roads maintenance, resurfacing and gritting budgets are also in line to be reduced.

South Ayrshire Council is looking at "reducing the workforce" to help find savings of £7million, while Highland has set a savings target of £11.49million in education and £5.01million in social work.

But the claims were branded "factually incorrect and grossly hypocritical" by a spokesman for Mr Swinney.

He said: "The efficiency savings the Scottish Government is asking local authorities to make are not cuts as the councils keep the money and can spend on their frontline priorities, whereas the UK Labour Government's "efficiency savings" are cuts, pure and simple."

Councils' share of the Scottish Budget has increased year-on-year since the SNP came to power in Scotland in 2007. This now sits at 34.1% compared with 33.4% in the last Budget of the previous Labour/Lib Dem administration.

The spokesman added: "The SNP Government halted that decline in order to deliver excellent public services, as well as fully funding the Council Tax freeze - compared to soaring council tax rates under Labour."

STV's Political Correspondent Jamie Livingstone gives his verdict on council cuts in The Cabinet Room.