SLC set to agree 2017/18 budget

Cash- strapped South Lanarkshire Council are expected to rubber-stamp £ 19 million worth of cuts tomorrow, Thursday, to enable them to balance the books next year.

A special meeting will be held when council leader Eddie McAvoy tables a motion to drop 20 proposed cuts from the budget.

The council had been facing £ 22.4m of savings to balance the books in 2017/18.

But this figure has now been reduced by £ 3m to £19m following a promise of £9.4 million by the Scottish Government.

The budget papers went before a meeting of the council’s executive committee last Wednesday but it was decided to adjourn the item until tomorrow for further discussions between parties.

It is expected the budget will be passed with Mr McAvoy’s amendments by the Labour majority on the council.

The Reformer understands the SNP Group were preparing to make their own suggestions to take some items out of the savings package.

Discussions are believed to have taken place earlier in the week to see if their amendments could be taken forward. Two girls from Rutherglen are charged with behaving in a threatening and abusive manner.

Amy Hannah, 23, and Sonya Heron, 24, are accused of shouting, swearing and uttering threats during an incident at Strathcona Place on August 2, 2015.

Hannah is also accused of culpably and recklessly slamming shut a broken window causing shards of glass to fall from the first floor to the ground below to the danger of the public.

Heron is said to have committed the offence having been bailed from Glasgow Sheriff Court in 2014, while Hannah was on an undertaking to appear at Hamilton Sheriff Court. The pair, both of Strathcona Place, pleaded not guilty to both charges when they appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on February 1.

They will stand trial on February 15.