The council said the offer was more than has been budgeted for

The local authority said the majority of workers would have their wages increased in a deal costing �5.6m.

However the council said "significant savings" would have to be found within services to fund the offer, which was due to be put to unions.

Staff and unions rejected a previous deal valued at about �3m. All of Scotland's councils have to address the issue of equal pay.

Moray Council has recommended that the revised single status offer be put to staff and unions for consultation.

Over budget

It said staff would be notified shortly of the impact of the offer on their position and pay, and would be given an opportunity to respond.

It is estimated 90% would see an increase or remain the same, with most of that number seeing a rise, and the remaining 10% losing money.

Convener Eddie Coutts said: "Single status is not something dreamt up by Moray Council, it is a national pay agreement held to be crucial to the advancement of female low paid workers.

"Traditionally women in local government receive three quarters of the pay of men, which is the result of an old bonus scheme that applies to the male workforce and is incorporated into their basic pay."

The council said although the cost of the new offer is �5.6m, only �3m has so far been budgeted for.

So the council said to fund the new offer significant savings would have to be made across the authority, and how the council delivered services may have to be reviewed.