Debate on budget

Dear Editor,

At North Lanarkshire’s budget, a Conservative group had the opportunity to influence debate and future delivery of services.

Much of the debate centred on the SNP [saying] they have no choice but to pass on Westminster austerity. The facts do not bear this out.

The misinformation continued when Fulton MacGregor said [Advertiser, March 7] that the Scottish “government provided an above-inflation increase”!

Despite an increased UK settlement to Holyrood, the reduced grant to North Lanarkshire still resulted in the need to save £21 million.

He then went on to laud SNP proposals that just didn’t add up and fell short of balancing by over £1m.

They want to keep facilities open whilst cutting more than £800,000 to North Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture NL, and proposed removing all festive lighting.

Our group worked for the good of all constituents; unlike the nationalists, who refused to engage.

Their business manager quoted a rhyme about hating Tories – I never thought I would hear such language in the council chamber!

We ensured a balanced budget while making additions to funding: school investment was prioritised, tackling loneliness among over-65s, funds to tackle fly tipping and enforcement, investment in cemeteries and access to breakfast clubs.

The SNP is happy to tax hard-working families. Council tax went up by three per cent, but after substantial rises (that nobody mentions!) in bands E to H [last year].

We are now the highesttaxed part of the UK. Those on lower earnings being better off by £20 per year is wiped out by council tax rise.

Working families are the targets for tax hikes, which will continue under SNP and Labour. It will no doubt have a negative economic effect.

Councillor David Cullen, Conservative, Airdrie North