Parties clash over budget impact
Council leader hails announcement but others unconvinced
The leader of South Lanarkshire council has welcomed the Scottish Government’s draft budget despite the authority still facing millions in cuts.
The SNP’s John Ross said the settlement from Holyrood could stave-off some of the £23 million worth of cuts his minority administration need to make to balance the books in 2018/19.
As part of the Scottish Government’s budget finance secretary, Derek Mackay, announced the settlement for local authorities.
South Lanarkshire Council will be allocated a block grant of £568m with a possible £4.2m of income available from a three per cent rise in council tax.
A final decision on proposed cuts was postponed at a meeting of South Lanarkshire Council’s executive committee until January pending the announcement of the settlement from Holyrood.
While council leader Ross hailed the government’s budget as “good news” for the people of South Lanarkshire, opposition parties say frontline services are still at risk with a £157m cut in real terms to local authorities. Mr Ross said: “I am awaiting a full analysis of what the budget will mean for local authorities by council officers, but my initial impression is that the Scottish Government has made it possible for us to reduce our need to find savings in next year’s budget.
“This would be hugely welcome and would allow councillors to look again at some of the proposals put forward by officers when they were working on early assumptions.”
Rutherglen’s SNP MSP, Clare Haughey also welcomed the budget saying: “This is a budget for a stronger economy and a fairer society – with increased funding for our NHS and protection for low and middle income earners.
“The Scottish Government is delivering lower income tax for the vast majority of Scots, with every worker earning less than £33,000 paying less in tax next year – while protecting public services that we all hold dear.”
South Lanarkshire Labour leader Davie McLachlan, however, said that the budget would still mean savage cuts.
He added: “This budget will be no comfort to the people of South Lanarkshire who will lose out on vital services that are essential to their everyday lives.
“I will call for John Ross to join us in standing up for our constituents and demand a better deal from his government for the people of South Lanarkshire.”
Rutherglen Liberal Democrat councillor, Robert Brown, also criticised the budget, saying: “The SNP government’s overhyped publicity suggested it was bonanza time for councils.
“Instead they have tried a sleight of hand against local communities and local services – the result of the SNP budget is actually a complicated mishmash which will be damaging to council services.”
The draft budget from Derek Mackay also included a new tax band of 21p for those earning more than £24,000.
The higher rate of tax will be increased from 40p to 41p and the top rate from 45p to 46p.
But a starter rate of 19p in the pound will also be introduced.