Aberdeen City Council is trying to make �27m of cuts

The controller of audit's report on best value and community planning at the council has highlighted concerns.

The public hearing will take place in the Aberdeen area. The council is currently trying to make �27m of cuts.

The commission will hear first-hand from the council to gain "a greater understanding of the council's difficulties".

The council's deputy leader, Kevin Stewart, welcomed the hearing.

He said: "Obviously the Accounts Commission report, which was carried out between November 2006 and January 2007, said we were not moving fast enough.

"Obviously this administration has changed things a lot since coming to power and our last budget has taken into account our current finances.

"I will therefore welcome the Accounts Commission hearing."

'Vital services'

The commission has only held one other best value hearing, in 2006 at West Dunbartonshire Council.

Aberdeen Central Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald welcomed the announcement of the local public hearing.

He said: "People in Aberdeen deserve to know what has gone wrong with the finances of Aberdeen City Council over the last couple of years and why so many vital services across the city are facing closure.

"I welcome this decision by the Account Commission and will be extremely interested in their findings."

A debate over council cuts is being held at Aberdeen's Arts Centre on Good Friday.