Labour slam SNP stance
Council leader John Ross has been accused of refusing to put his own political slant on the budget.
South Lanarkshire Council faces cuts of £16 million in the next financial year, with many front line services being impacted.
But the Labour group have accused Councillor Ross of ducking responsibility for savings that will need to be made.
Councillor Davie McLachlan, leader of South Lanarkshire Labour Group, said:“The leader of this council has continuously told us that this is an officer-led budget and the SNP administration has not had any input into the savings that have been put forward.
“What I want to know is when John Ross is going to show some leadership in his new role? When is he going to get on with the job he has been trusted with and run the council for the benefit of the people of South Lanarkshire?
“Our constituents expect the SNP administration of the council to lead the way in the budget and at this moment in time that isn’t happening.”
Councillor Ross said he was “a little alarmed” by the statement from Councillor McLachlan, adding: “We are working to the same budget process that has been in place for many years and which was followed by the last Labour administration. As an experienced Labour councillor I would have thought Cllr McLachlan would have known this.
“It is quite straightforward, and officers get the process started by putting forward initial savings proposals. Then, once these proposals have been considered and the total settlement from the Scottish Government for South Lanarkshire is known, the SNP administration will be in a position to put forward our budget proposals.”
The SNP will need support from either the Labour group or the Conservative group to pass the budget when it goes to a vote of the full council next month.
Labour have said they will oppose all cuts to the social work budget.
South Lanarkshire officers were given details of their government grant in December.
However, a further update was received last week indicating additional funding of £1.9m but the council has not yet been issued with a revised settlement.