Cash boost barely dents budget cuts

WESTERN Isles Council has welcomed news that £160 million will be returned to local government, but has said that councils will still be hard pressed to find cuts.

Commenting on the recent announcement, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Leader councillor Angus Campbell said: ‘It is to be welcomed that the Scottish Government, in reaching agreement with the Scottish Green Party, has revised its proposed budget.

‘However, it has to be remembered that we had been required to find savings of £4.4million, so with the additional £990,000 revenue funding as a result of this agreement, the required savings are now £3.3m. There is also an additional £ 350,000 of capital which again is a welcome mitigating move but there is no doubt this remains an extremely challenging period for local authorities.’

To view the papers head to www.cne-siar.gov.uk/ committees/ budgets/index.asp