Budget cuts
South Lanarkshire aim to slash £23.5million
Vital services are in the firing line as South Lanarkshire Council looks to slash £23.5 million from its budget for 2018/19.
A package of proposed cuts will go to elected members today as they prepare to make brutal decisions that will impact on the lives of residents in Rutherglen and Cambuslang.
Vital services are in the firing line as South Lanarkshire Council looks to slash £23.5 million from its budget for 2018/19.
A package of proposed cuts will go to an executive committee today as elected members prepare to make brutal decisions that will impact on the lives of residents in Rutherglen and Cambuslang.
Symbolising the situation is the first increase in the charge for community alarms in 17 years.
Currently costing £1.54, officers suggest raising that to £2, saving £130,000 per year.
School meals could be increased from £1.60 to £1.80, saving £416,000 a year, while cremation charges will go up by nearly 20 per cent to £670.
All voluntary local groups could see their council funding cut by five per cent.
And opening hours could be cut at Rutherglen, Halfway and Cathkin libraries. The mobile library, which was used over 700 times in Rutherglen and Cambuslang last year, is set to be scrapped.
Primary one class sizes could increase to the statutory 25 at four primary schools in the area: Burgh, Cathkin, Loch and St Cadoc’s.
One of the biggest proposed savings is the £4.366m, which could come from a reduction in resurfacing roads.
Over 225 jobs could go if the savings proposal is accepted.
The Scottish Government is due to announce the financial package for councils on December 14.
The savings proposal will be continued at Wednesday’s meeting with no decision until the situation becomes clearer.
Once that happens, the minority SNP administration will need the support of either the Labour or Conservative group to get the budget through.
Council leader John Ross told the Reformer some of the savings would be made by “working differently” but added: “It will be challenging.”
Councillor Ross said: “We are hoping that there will be no silly politics. We want people looking for the best outcome for the people of South Lanarkshire. That is what we are here to do and hopefully we will get some consensus.”
Councillor Ross also blamed the previous administration and Westminster for the cuts, saying: “It would probably have been a bit easier if the last administration had raised council tax last year.
“I was hoping the Westminster government would have changed their mind on austerity. Hopefully what we get from the Scottish Government will be something we can work with.”
However, the Labour group called on the SNP administration to demand more support from the Scottish Government.
Group leader Davie McClachlan said: “Instead of fighting austerity they are forcing it onto local services and local communities.
“Enough is enough. The SNP administration in South Lanarkshire need to break their silence and join South Lanarkshire Labour in demanding a fairer funding deal that will prevent these cuts to our council services.”
Councillor Robert Brown of the Liberal Democrats said he was concerned about proposed cuts to attendance and behavioural support in schools, something that would affect Cathkin, Stonelaw and Trinity.
He added: “This constant damage to council services has to stop. It affects every citizen of South Lanarkshire in some way, and particularly people more dependent on local services, such as older people and children.”
We want people looking for the best outcome for the people of South Lanarkshire