£200mboostfor city in SNP vision
GLASGOW’S SNP group have put forward alternative plans for a council budget which proposes more than £200m of investment in the city over the next five years.
The plans, which have been revealed ahead of today’s council budget meeting, include additional funding for children’s nurture classes, free breakfast clubs and a new community fund.
Millions would be spent on new back court and on-street bins, replacing 200,000 street lights with LED bulbs, and restoring the Polmadie bridge across the Clyde.
The party, which hopes to take control of the local authority following the council elections in May, said it wants to give the public an idea of “what an SNP City Government might look like for Glasgow.”
The £200m suggested for capital investment would be put to- wards fixing pavements and road, which would help cut down on compensation claims and maintenance costs.
Early intervention and preventative measures will also be given a £4m investment, while £2m would be put in to providing 30 nurture classes for children who need extra support.
Breakfast clubs would also be free for all children and £19m would be spent on upgrading and adding new equipment to more than 100 primary school playgrounds
SNP Leader of the Opposition Councillor Susan Aitken said: “We are determined to show what an SNP City Government might look like for Glasgow.”
Shadow City Treasurer, councillor Norman MacLeod, said along with the investment in infrastructure, education and care, the party “want to see significant improvements for Glasgow and to ensure sound spending plans in future years.”
“We have, once again, committed to re-join COSLA. Glasgow should lead Scottish Local Government from the front.
“As well as finding funds for vital priorities, we have identified £5m as a reserve for a new Community Fund. This will be available, once necessary structures are introduced, for Participatory Budgeting as it is extended across Glasgow”.
“We believe that this a budget made in Glasgow for Glasgow.
“We will argue for these proposals today and for these principles in the run up to the election.”