Council set for budget
A date has been set for North Lanarkshire Council to confirm its budget, following the Scottish Government’s announcement of its draft budget.
The council budget will be set on Monday, February 24, as the Scottish draft budget will be completed on February 6. This is despite the UK Government stating it will not set its budget until March 11, after the legal deadline to inform residents of any changes to their council tax.
The leader of the council, Jim Logue, said: “While the budget process announced by the SNP Government still leaves room for some doubt, their stated intention to publish a draft budget on February 6 means we will have indicative figures to work with.
“We’ll be working hard between the publication of the draft budget and the council meeting on February 24 to put together a budget based on these figures and to set council tax for next year.
“In the meantime, we hope the SNP Government finally listen to our concerns about the catastrophic cuts imposed on us over the last ten years and give us a fair budget deal for North Lanarkshire.”
Tom Johnston, who leads the 31 SNP councillors in North Lanarkshire, said: “Scotland’s 32 local authorities have been treated with contempt by the Westminster Tories over the local government budget timetable.
“Normally, the UK Chancellor announces the Scottish Government Block Grant of over £30 billion in November.
“This vital and basic financial information then allows the Scottish Government to produce its Draft Budget in December, including the Draft Revenue cash Settlement for North Lanarkshire Council. This gives ten weeks to prepare the final budget in late February.
“Because Boris Johnson wasn’t getting his own way over his Brexit Bill, the Tories scrapped the UK Chancellor’s November Statement. The General Election was not the cause of this financial chaos – it simply added to the delay.
“The London Tories are so arrogant that Derek Mackay, the Scottish Government’s Finance Minister, only learned about the new March 11 date for the UK Budget, via the BBC News.
“Now the Scottish Government must set a local authority budget without knowing the final UK Block Grant from Westminster. This creates great uncertainty and anxiety for thousands of Scottish local authority workers and their families.”
The leader of the council’s Conservative group is Councillor Meghan Gallagher added: “All major parties at Westminster agreed to a December election, and it was obvious at that point what the consequences would be for budgets. The Conservative Group agrees with the date which has been set.
“The Conservative Group has already begun its budget process, trying to offset disastrous SNP Scottish Government cuts. We will continue to stand up for the people of North Lanarkshire by challenging the SNP to fund Local Government properly, whilst trying to protect front line services.”