Council faces cuts of above £20m

Highland Council is facing cuts in expenditure of more than £20m each year for the next two years to balance its books.

Each service has been asked to find savings of 5%.

Budget leader David Alston previously warned there was a £19.6m gap in the council's 2009/10 budget - almost £14m as the result of rising energy costs.

Energy bills are expected to rise substantially in the next financial year due to contracting arrangements.