The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Business and roads budget priority in Perth and Kinross
Economy versus community dominated debate around a Covid-19controlled budget as Perth and Kinross councillors argued on how to best recover from the pandemic.
The Conservative group won a landslide victory for their proposal which focused on business while also putting forward a £4 million roads package.
All parties rejected a controversial proposal to charge bereaved families £84 for webcam services at funerals, while the Conservatives and SNP also threw out a suggestion of price hikes for memorial benches.
However, common ground could not be found on all policies.
The SNP group were accused of putting zero money into economic recovery.
Conservative councillor John Duff said: “Our business economy has taken a severe hit over the 12 months of this pandemic and I think local businesses will be absolutely shocked at the total lack of investment in our economy within the SNP budget.”
In turn, the SNP blamed the Tories for presenting “old money as new” in community funding.
SNP councillor Eric Drysdale said: “I’m deeply disappointed but not surprised that the Tories are trying to pull the wool over the eyes of voters presenting old money as new in terms of investment in communities.”
In the Conservative budget the council, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Growbiz, will invest £175,000 to provide matchfunding for businesses which undertake crowd-funding.
Marketing to promote Perth and Kinross in the form of a visitor management fund for rural communities was given £250,000.
A total of £160,000 was set aside for community initiatives that would support people to lead “independent, healthy and active lives”.
Plans to increase the price of school meals by 10p will remain in place, despite an SNP proposal to reduce them.
Road infrastructure will receive a £14m investment as the council attempts to catch up on issues that were left untreated during the pandemic.
Mr Duff said: “I want to see our roads services move ahead at top speed to catch up and overtake where the condition of our roads needs to be.”
In education, £272,000 will be invested in a virtual campus and an expansion of course choices.
The administration party’s plans drew support from independents and the Lib Dems following a number of concessions.
An additional £240,000 is now going towards a pilot scheme for a ranger service while £200,000 from the roads budget is earmarked for road safety measures including 20mph signs around schools.
The long-awaited PH20 project featured on both the Labour and independents budgets with the latter proposing a contribution of £5 million to support the construction of a new swimming pool.
The project was not part of the Tory budget but council leader Murray Lyle said the new Perth pool was still one of his administration’s goals.
The Conservative budget was passed by 25 votes to 13 with Alasdair Bailey of Labour abstaining.