Expert council crisis group meets

Campaigners have been fighting the council's proposed cutbacks

The expert group tasked with helping Aberdeen City Council tackle its financial problems has held talks.

The group includes leaders and chief executives of other local authorities around the country.

They have already told the council that significant redundancies will have to be made to claw back the £49.7m of savings needed.

Campaigners who were outside the meeting are to gather a petition calling for leader Kate Dean to resign.

After the meeting, the council leader said it was time to stop looking back and apportioning blame. She described the meeting as useful.

The cutbacks have led to months of public protests.