Areas for capital investment include the area’s schools and nurseries, social care facilities, kerbside bin collections and recycling, and maintaining and improving roads and footpaths. Also, improvements in central heating, better windows and insulation, to help council tenants reduce bills and help tackle the climate emergency.

Council leader John Ross said: “The council’s budget comes at a particularly difficult time for so many people in our society. Everyone has been struggling with Covid-19 for two years.

“Now, just as we are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, many of our residents find themselves faced with further hardships caused by increases in the cost of living. So, I am glad we have been able to reduce the increase in council tax from the 3.5% previously suggested to 2.5%.

“I predict this will be among the lowest council tax increases in Scotland this year, and that South Lanarkshire will still have the lowest council tax on mainland Scotland.”

Councillor Ross noted that last June early estimates had predicted a budget gap of more than £54m. He said the need for significant savings had been prevented thanks to a number of financial solutions identified by officers, and a better-than-expected grant from the Scottish Government.