WORKING FOR YOU Labour’s excuses are a ‘disgrace’

Last month the council set its budget for 2020/21 and, as an MSP, I had limited influence over this outcome.

I was disappointed, though not surprised, to see the Labour- run council present a budget that approved cuts that will hit our most vulnerable residents.

Just some of the proposals that Labour councillors voted for, in conjunction with their Tory peers, were: a council tax rise of 4.84 per cent; the closure of Kilbowie outdoor education centre; price increases for burial services; an increase in charges for school lunches; charges for community alarms; a £1 million reduction on spending on roads; a reduction in support at sheltered housing complexes; an increase in charges for special uplifts; removal of festive lighting; and a reduction of grit bins.

I appreciate that hard choices have to be made in these situations but for the council leader to say this budget does its best to protect the most vulnerable in Lanarkshire is an outrage and an insult.

Those who rely on community alarms may now have to make the choice whether it is worth the cost of having one. Families on the threshold who do not receive benefits but still struggle will have to choose whether they can afford for their children to get a hot meal that day.

This is the reality of these additional charges; they do nothing for the vulnerable.

I hope that with North Lanarkshire benefiting from a share of an extra £95m for local government, with an extra £6 million of investment going to Lanarkshire, Labour will now reconsider closing Kilbowie.

They knew it was always a possibility that funding like this would be added so it really goes to show they are not just quick, but determined to make these cuts before the Scottish Government have even given a guarantee of what money is being allocated.

It should be noted that other neighbouring councils have not had to make such drastic cuts as North Lanarkshire.

Perhaps just as shocking is the administration U- turning on a decision made last year. In June 2019, the council passed a motion that agreed that deferred school places for four-year-olds will be fully funded after a tireless campaign from Give Them Time.

Labour has now went back on this policy by saying it is unaffordable using figures that depend on 100 per cent uptake; it’s completely unreasonable to think that all eligible children would defer and parents and children have been let down again.

Many parents who were hopeful this would be implemented soon have approached me and it goes without saying there is a huge array of evidence to suggest that deferment can really be of benefit to certain children.

However, Labour have presented excuses after excuses. For a supposedly socialist party this is a disgrace and I am not surprised to see some of their long standing elected councillors and community champions turning their back on the party.

They no longer just leave the public behind, as shown in their most recent election results, but are letting their own members and elected representatives become so disillusioned they have no choice but to leave.

Cause for alarm Mr MacGregor says people who rely on community alarms, like these residents of Laurel Gardens sheltered housing in Chapelhall, “now have to make the choice whether it is worth the cost of having one”