Petition to call for leader to go

Kate Dean has already said she will continue in her role

Campaigners against Aberdeen City Council's budget cuts are to gather a petition calling for leader Kate Dean to resign, BBC Scotland can reveal.

She has been criticised over the handling of the council's finances, at a time when services have been cut.

The city's Trade Union Council intends to gather the signatures.

The council leader insisted she had no intention of resigning, adding she doubted there was "any chance" of the majority of Aberdonians signing.

Trade Union Council secretary Sultan Feroz said: "We are confident we can get the majority of Aberdonians to sign the petition."

Scotland's finance secretary has been called on to investigate whether Aberdeen City Council's �49.7m budget cutbacks are legal.

BBC Scotland revealed on Tuesday that council managers had been asked to identify who could be offered voluntary redundancy or early retirement.

An all-party leadership board was set up in the wake of a critical report from the Accounts Commission earlier this year, which said Aberdeen City Council faced "extremely serious" challenges.

The cutbacks have led to months of public protests.

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