“Unprecedented” cuts of more than £5million have been agreed by Argyll and Bute councillors, with front line services set to be slashed, and more than 80 full-time jobs facing the axe.

Council tax bills will remain the same, in line with policy set by the Scottish Government, but with subsidies slashed councillors have been forced to make “tough decisions” to balance the books.

At a meeting of Argyll and Bute Council on Thursday, the ruling administration successfully pushed through a motion to cut funding to local authority services by £5.186m, with a loss of around 82 FTE jobs.

Front line services are set to be cut completely or reduced, with rose and shrub beds to be returned to grass; hedges will be cut annually, and grass cutting will be carried out in October/November, with other areas returned to natural growth.

Advice agencies, such as the citizens advice bureau, will have their budgets cut by a quarter by the council, saving £41,000 in the next year.

School crossing patrollers will be removed at lunchtime and where there is already an electronic crossing in place.

Car parking will also be increased from 80p to £1.

In schools, there will be a five per cent cut in clerical assistants in primary schools.

Attendance Officer posts will be removed, as will school librarians in secondary schools across the region saving £246,000, a loss of 14 full-time equivalent jobs.

The council will create a charitable trust to bring together community halls, libraries, swimming pools and fitness facilities – which Cllr Dick Walsh told the meeting on Thursday would protect 125 jobs, as well as creating a “potential for levering in external funding”.

The cost of dying is set to increase with burial charges increasing by 20 per cent, and cremation charges increased by 14 per cent, saving Argyll and Bute Council £120,000 in 2016/17.

The administration budget, which was passed by 19 votes, rejected the closure of all 43 public conveniences across the region, they also opposed the removal of hanging baskets.

Cllr Walsh told councillors this was because they “have listened” to the public who want to keep Argyll and Bute “attractive and clean”.

They also rejected the removal of food waste collection in Helensburgh, as well as rejecting 20 per cent cuts to secondary school janitors, classroom assistants, and school technicians. The cost of rejecting those options is £1.4m.

Cllr Dick Walsh told the meeting by rejecting those options, 68 full-time equivalent jobs were “secure and protected”.

He told the meeting: “We are not perfect, but we are not the worst.”