COUNCILLORS from across Renfrewshire will meet on Thursday to set the area's budget for the year ahead.

The SNP-minority administration are to put forward proposals of nearly £396 million for local authority services.

The budget proposal for 2019/20’s financial year represents a £5 million increase from last year’s coffers and would see £176 million set aside for Children’s Services.

READ MORE: SNP face fight to force through Renfrewshire Council budget

However, experts at the public body have warned of demographic factors playing a “major role” in driving spending pressures.

The council has been working closely with Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership on strategies looking to restrict the impact of “demand led growth”.

These include providing more cost effective services, such as bringing care arrangements in Children’s Services in-house and reducing reliance on expensive external agencies.

Councillor John Shaw, convener of the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board, will make his budget statement.

He will speak on the main points of the budget and present it as a motion - which will be seconded by council leader Iain Nicolson - before opposition groups can put forward amendments.

Councillors will then vote on the budget proposals.

As revealed by The Gazette, the opposition Labour group are set to hit back at the SNP's proposals with a budget of their own. 

While the full details of their proposals are yet to be finalised by the party, they have confirmed their budget will include a council tax freeze. 

READ MORE: Families set for council tax rise 

If, as expected, the Conservatives side with Labour it would leave the administration facing the very real prospect of defeat. 

Down by 21 votes to 19, the budget's success would than come down to the votes of Independent candidates Andy Doig and Paul Mack, and Liberal Democrat Eileen McCartin. 

The trio would then essentially become the kingmakers of the budget. 

We've put together a quick guide on who the three are and what they have had to say about the budget so far.