Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
North Lanarkshire faces £57m cuts over three years
Council leader calls on SNP to join forces and demand more cash from Scottish Government
North Lanarkshire Council faces £57 million of cuts over the next three years according to leader Jim Logue.
Ahead of the authority’s annual budget-setting meeting on March 2, the Airdrie Central representative said: “Yet again we will be faced with having to cut services or jobs to balance the books.”
Now his Labour group is calling on local SNP politicians to join them in seeking more money from Holyrood, saying they have “a responsibility to join us in fighting for their constituents against these outrageous cuts”.
However, opposition leader Tom Johnston welcomed the money being made available to fund a council tax freeze across Scotland and for public sector pay, and said additional cash for councils would impact on that available for other areas including health and education.
This year’s Scottish budget includes an additional £18m in revenue funding for North Lanarkshire compared to last year, but Councillor Logue says there will still be a considerable deficit.
He told the Advertiser: “It once again fails to provide sufficient funding to maintain vital local services – the proposed settlement to all councils falls well short of the increase in the Scottish Government’s budget from Westminster.
“It’s particularly appalling that the SNP are holding councils to ransom on council tax; threatening to withdraw funding if authorities don’t do as the Scottish Government ask shows contempt for their democratic autonomy in delivering local services.”
He “implored” SNP members to “work with [his group] on securing a better deal”, with the Labour group saying: “The initial proposal continues the catastrophic cuts to council services that have been in effect since 2007.”
North Lanarkshire revealed in August how the coronavirus crisis response had already cost £47m up to that point, and the administration said: “With the council facing a Covid funding gap alongside the yearly shortfalls from continuous cuts, there was hope that this year’s settlement would be different in light of the challenges faced”.
The council leader said: “The SNP budget hands down £57m of cuts to North Lanarkshire over the next three years. This year more than ever we need a no-cuts budget as we look to recover from the pandemic.
“We need a far better deal for North Lanarkshire when the budget is voted on later this month.
“The decision rests with SNP MSPS who have the opportunity to stand up to their government and ask them to reverse these catastrophic cuts.
“It’s time for them to work with us – as we have with their government – to support our residents and services as best we possibly can.”
SNP group leader Councillor Johnston responded: “I’m delighted with the £90m being offered to ensure a council tax freeze in 2021-22, which will bring relief to hard-pressed families.
“The Labour group want more cash for local government – to do this, they will have to campaign to slash the Scottish NHS budget rise of £800m, the police rise of £60m, or cut the £2.7 billion Scottish education and skills budget.
“Likewise, the SNP is ensuring that all public sector workers earning below £25,000 will get three per cent rises, despite the very difficult economic times.”
He added that his group will present its own budget at the forthcoming council meeting, adding: “Labour rely on working with the Tory group to get their budget through each year. The SNP will not be sitting down with Labour’s Tory chums to agree a budget.”
Conservative group leader Meghan Gallacher hit out at that claim as “incorrect and categorically untrue,” stating that her group also produces its own financial proposals – and joined the calls for additional funding for the local authority.
She said: “Last year, the Conservative group produced and voted for our own budget, which attempted to mitigate millions of pounds worth of SNP cuts.
“We have repeatedly called for a fair funding deal for local authorities to be enshrined into law, and the budget proposed by the finance secretary falls far short of that.
“The SNP Government have their largest-ever budget from the UK government, yet are only proposing increasing council [funding] by less than one per cent – that only risks more vital public services and the jobs that come with them.”
She added: “Tom Johnston appears to have thrown his toys out the pram ahead of the budget negotiations even starting.
“It is time for SNP politicians like him to direct their moans towards their counterparts in Edinburgh and demand a better funding deal – anything less would be a complete dereliction of duty as we fight to rebuild our communities.”
This year more than ever we need a no-cuts budget as we look to recover from the pandemic