Budget plans under wraps

Cuts may not get aired till last minute

Proposals aimed at balancing Stirling Council’s finances might not be made known to the public until just before they are decided it has been warned.

Stirling Council is looking to save at least £32 million over the next five years.

And in June, councillors were told that officials couldn’t commit to withdrawing unpopular budget cutting ideas despite pledging to also come up with some new options.

At last Thursday’s full council meeting, Tory councillors lodged a motion asking that the chief executive be asked to work with managers and staff to bring forward options for closing the budget gap including efficiency savings, service redesign and income generation.

They further asked that the options then be published on the council website on or before January 10 and sent to all community councils for consultation.

However, council legal advisers deemed the motion could not be discussed as a similar matter was brought up at the council’s finance and economy committee in June and fell just short of the six-month rule for rediscussion.

Debate could have ensued had two-thirds of councillors voted to suspend the rule, however, the council’s SNP/ Labour administration rejected the idea.

Tory group leader Councillor Neil Benny said: “I am staggered that the SNP led administration were content to use a piece of procedure to prevent our very sensible motion from progressing. Unfortunately they have repeatedly refused every opportunity to make public the proposals to save money.

“We all know the council is facing another really difficult financial settlement next year. Savings will be needed and people should be told what is being discussed so they can get involved. As it stands everyone will find out their plans just before the crucial meeting in February and that is not good enough.”

Council leader Scott Farmer, however, defended the stance.

“Councillor Benny doesn’t seem to understand what’s going on in UK politics right now,” he said. “The Scottish Government, which allocates the local government settlement, cannot produce a budget because the Tory

Government in Westminster has decided not to publish one themselves and have a general election instead.

“If anything, this whole episode has highlighted the broken system of UK governance. “However, this administration is working hard to deliver and protect local services, despite the decade of austerity handed to us by Councillor Benny’s party.

“The budgetary process was agreed on June 13 this year, and this Tory motion was ruled incompetent following that decision. Councillor Benny was at that meeting and did not utter a single word at the time. Perhaps if he spent more time familiarising himself with the actions of his own party’s government, he would end up with less egg on his face.”