DECISION
More teachers and classroom staff 1700 kids to get free school meals and clothing grants But jobs to go in £15m cuts
An extra 65 teachers and classroom assistants could be employed in South Lanarkshire and 1700 young people automatically enrolled for free school meals and clothing grants – but £15 million worth of cuts are still in the pipeline.
Cash-strapped South Lanarkshire Council were due to set their budget for 2018/19 at a meeting of the executive committee yesterday (Wednesday).
A revised package of savings – reduced from £16m in January – was set to go before councillors, with 124 jobs now facing the axe.
The SNP administration have previously put forward a number of proposals including free breakfast clubs, lunch clubs and free lets for parent councils and parent-teacher associations totalling £680,000.
And as well as more teachers and classroom assistants, 50 additional staff would be trained to work in nurseries and another 50 to help care for the elderly as part of a £7.8m package.
Furthermore, the plans would see the automatic enrolment of all families with an entitlement to free school meals and clothing grants – meaning hot meals and school clothes will be available for at least 1700 young people whose parents don’t currently apply for them.
But hard-pressed ratepayers were still looking at a three per cent council tax rise and brassed-off motorists could see £3m slashed from the carriageway resurfacing programme. Other cuts included:
A first rise in 17 years in the charge for vulnerable residents who use the community alarm service.
An increase in the cost meals.
Increase in cremation charges. But with the SNP running a minority administration, they will need the support of others in order for the budget of school to be passed.
There are 25 SNP councillors; 17 Labour; 14 Tory; six Independent Group members; one Liberal Democrat and independent David Mclachlan, suspended leader of the Labour Group.
Council leader John Ross says his party has held “constructive” talks with their opponents.
The magic number for the SNP was 33, unless there were abstentions or absences. Cllr Ross insisted the budget being put forward was “investing in communities” across South Lanarkshire and will provide a boost for the young, older people and the most vulnerable. He said: “There are still significant financial challenges but our position is better than we initially prepared for, partly because our Scottish Government grant is better than anticipated.
“I am especially proud that we are going to do away with the obstacles that seem to prevent 1200 pupils from getting free school meals and 1700 from getting clothing grants.
“These children will now automatically be able to get the hot meals and warm clothes that are a basic right and should help them focus on their studies.”
South Lanarkshire would be one of the first councils in the country to move to automatic enrolment – and it was also proposed that the clothing grant would rise by 50 per cent to £75.
Cllr Ross added: “While just a few months ago we expected to have to find much more in savings than we now face having to make, it still has taken a great deal of hard work and difficult choices by the administration and council officers to get to this point.
“However, I believe this is a good budget which invests in our communities and I am pleased to say that I have had constructive talks with other political groups, for which I am grateful.”
Check next week’s paper for an update.