Fury at ‘threats’ from Scottish Government
PKC to write to ministers over being told it could face sanctions
Pe r t h a n d K i n ros s councillors have expressed “extreme displeasure and frustration” at being threatened with financial sanctions by the Scottish Government rather than being given “adequate” funding.
SNP council leader Grant Laing has agreed to write to Scottish Government ministers ShirleyAnne Somerville and John Swinney conveying this but called it “political opportunism” by Conservatives.
The emergency motion – tabled by the Conservatives – was unanimously supported following what was described as Ms Somerville’s financial “threat” to Scotland’s councils in Holyrood last week.
On Tuesday, February 7, the cabinet secretary for Education and Skills told the Scottish Parliament the Scottish Government would “withdraw or recoup funding” if councils did not deliver on three specific aims.
She said: “Local authorities have historically received funding every year to maintain the pupilteacher ratio, teacher numbers and to provide places on the Teacher Induction Scheme for all probationers who need one. We also provide a further £145.5 million each year to fund teacher numbers and pupil support staff.
“Combined, this funding was made available and agreed with local authorities to deliver on three specific aims: maintaining teacher numbers at their current levels in the year ahead; maintaining the number of school support staff at their current levels in the year ahead; and continuing to ensure there are places available for probationer teachers who need them on the Teacher Induction Scheme.
“In the year ahead, where these criteria are not met by a local authority, we will withhold or recoup funding that has been given to a local authority for these purposes.”
Tabling the motion – at a meeting of Perth and Kinross Council on Wednesday, February 8 – Conservative group leader John Duff said: “This motion is not being proposed through any desire on
our part to cut teacher numbers or support staff, far from it, but that these restrictions are tying the hands of local authorities in reaching a conclusion on what is the best way to reach a balanced budget in extremely challenging circumstances.
“It is therefore extremely
I’m concerned it’s a threat to our democracy in this council and we should all stand together to protect it
Cllr Bob Brawn
displeasing and frustrating then that the cabinet secretary has seen fit to threaten local authorities with cuts to their budget rather than to provide councils with adequate finance to deliver the services which our communities expect and demand.”
His motion – seconded by Conservative councillor Caroline Shiers – called on council leader Grant Laing to write to both Ms Somerville and Mr Swinney
to “express the council’s extreme displeasure and frustration and request that they reconsider and reverse their decision”.
Learning and Families Committee convener John Rebbeck said: “I actually do accept the timing of this is really inconvenient.
“I don’t think there is much h doubt about that but it is wellintentioned.”
The SNP councillor added: “I’m not sure writing letters to John Swinney is particularly productive at this point.”
Conservative councillor Angus Forbes said: “This is not about cutting teaching numbers. Nobody wants to do that and that’s just the reality of the situation we are in.
“This – to me – is about local democracy and I actually find myself agreeing with the leader of Glasgow City Council Susan Aitken who said: ‘Decisions must be made here in Glasgow’. I would say we take the same view – decisions must be made here in Perth and Kinross.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Peter Barrett said: “I think the Scottish Government has treated councils with contempt and in bad faith.”
The Perth City Centre councillor, who leads the Lib Dem group on COSLA, added: “The situation is just getting worse and worse with l less and dl less sympathy th f from th the Scottish Government. We are at breaking point and something has to change.”
Cllr Laing suggested it was “opportunism” by the Conservatives to table the motion “rather than a sensible approach to continuing to put pressure on to get a better settlement and more flexibility”.
Conservative Blairgowrie and Glens councillor Bob Brawn argued: “It’s wrong to threaten our council with sanctions.
“I’m concerned it’s a threat to our democracy in this council and we should all stand together to protect it.”
Cllr Rebbeck had looked to table an amendment but withdrew it and approved the motion along with the rest of the SNP administration.
Cllr Laing said: “I don’t mind writing because I do agree we should be pushing for funding but I think this is political opportunism.
“I’m happy to write as per the motion.”