CONSERVATIVE councillors claimed they were "strong-armed into silence by the terrified administration" amid a fiery debate on Fife Council's budget.

In a bizarre exchange at Fife House on Thursday, they said they were denied the chance to criticise proposals which, by offering no changes or alternative figures, they had already accepted.

The Tories claimed it was an "innovative" new way to present their amendment but it was disparaged by opponents for not containing full figures or explaining how a balanced budget could be achieved.

One councillor described it as "painting by numbers, but they forgot to put the numbers in" while SNP council co-leader David Alexander accused them of "epic cowardice".

The SNP and Labour joint administration's proposals to save £4.8 million were eventually voted through in Glenrothes.

But accusations flew with both the UK and Scottish Governments blamed for the lack of money for councils and arguments about privatisation, education cuts and the "abomination that is Universal Credit".

The council's Labour co-leader, David Ross, asked if the Tory amendment was competent, stating: "It's simply a commentary and makes no changes to our budget proposals."

Chief Executive Steve Grimmond ruled that while it did not propose any changes, it did ask the council to "consider an approach to outsourcing" and there were no grounds to exclude.

Cllr Tony Miklinski said: "It’s a new way of presenting things, it’s innovative and imaginative but we got clear advice and it will be a disgrace if we’re not allowed to present this.”

Pressed on the content, he confirmed their amendment contained "no changes".

This led to farcical scenes where successive Tory councillors, who were critical of the budget proposals, were stopped repeatedly and reminded that by offering no alternatives, they had accepted all of the proposals they were speaking against.

Eventually, Cllr Linda Holt was given a final warning by Provost Jim Leishman and afterwards she said they had been "gagged" and "strong-armed into silence by the terrified administration".

Cllr Alexander hit out: "What was their plan? To make some savings eventually? They can’t justify one number.”

Labour councillor Altany Craik added: “Their alternative is six sheets of paper. No attempt to meet the competency of a balanced budget, it’s just ill-informed, ideological nonsense.”

The Conservative's "silver bullet" was outsourcing, arguing that getting the private sector to take over services such as waste management, catering and roads maintenance would deliver an alternative source of revenue and savings.

Cllr Miklinski said: "Our priority is value for money for the taxpayer; for Conservatives, outsourcing is an opportunity, not a threat."

He argued that the council was already outsourcing services and said that, out of the council's 2,500 care home beds, 88 per cent were in the private

Councillor Dave Dempsey added: "We have an alternative; a way of avoiding the continued downward spiral from which there seems to be no escape.

"They have no alternative, it’s a one-way trip downhill but we have an alternative that should at least be examined.”

However, there was concern and warnings about privatisation with Cllr Rosemary Liewald stating that her research into the private sector taking on council services uncovered "an array of poor practices on annual leave, removing sick pay, failing to pay national minimum wage and more zero hour contracts".

Lib Dem councillor Bill Porteous said: "Year after year, we see cuts. In some respects, it’s irrelevant whether they are from the Scottish Government or Westminster. We know they are coming, should we be adult enough to raise the white flag and say we can’t do this any more?"

However, there will still be pain ahead with a warning of an estimated "budget gap of over £20m to address for 2020-21".