NLC budget date confirmed
North Lanarkshire’s budget for the year ahead will now be set on March 2.
The authority’s crucial finance meeting – at which council tax rates for the year will be determined, along with any cuts required – has been moved back by five days to take place after the Scottish budget is finalised.
Council leader Jim Logue has said the council faces £57million of cuts over the next three years, and accused the Scottish government of“holding councils to ransom”on local taxation after offering conditional funding to freeze rates for the year ahead.
Figures from Holyrood indicate that North Lanarkshire would receive £4.64 million to freeze the current council tax rates, which would maintain Band D costs at £1221.25 after rises in the past three years.
Shotts MSP Alex Neil says a council tax freeze would “provide financial relief to thousands of local households during tough times”and is calling on the council to ensure it is put in place to qualify for its share of the assigned £90 million Holyrood funding.
He said:“We all know the financial impact that this global pandemic has had, so it’s great news that the Scottish government has sought to provide relief to households by supporting local authorities to freeze council tax for the coming year. If North Lanarkshire Council chooses to do the right thing and freeze rates, they will be fully supported to the tune of £4.64 million – it’s time they gave local residents that assurance.”
Councillor Logue said:“It’s appalling the SNP are holding councils to ransom on council tax; threatening to withdraw funding if authorities don’t do as the Scottish Government ask shows contempt for their democratic autonomy in delivering local services.
“The Scottish government budget once again fails to provide sufficient funding to maintain vital local services in our communities – the proposed settlement to all councils falls well short of the budget increase fromWestminster.
“We will be faced with having to cut services or jobs to balance the books; every SNP councillor, MSP and MP in North Lanarkshire has a responsibility to join us in fighting for their constituents.”