We’ll walk away and let you do dirty work
Attack on ministers over local levy
COUNCILLORS forced to make cuts to local services could “walk away” and leave the Scottish Government to do the “dirty work” instead, a council leader has warned.
Stephen McCabe, who leads the Labour administration on Inverclyde Council, said town halls across the country were facing a financial crisis caused by years of real-terms cuts.
He also attacked Humza Yousaf ’s council tax freeze when public services are already struggling.
But McCabe’s suggestion councillors may ultimately refuse to pass on more cuts to their communities is likely to cause concern in Holyrood.
Local authorities are legally obliged to balance their books each year and can’t enter bankruptcy.
But several English councils have in recent years been forced to issue a Section 114 notice – an admission the town hall can no longer meet its financial commitments.
Such a scenario usually results in government-appointed commissioners being drafted in to slash spending.
The most high-profile example was when Liverpool City Council under the leadership of leftwinger Derek Hatton repeatedly clashed with Margaret Thatcher’s Tory government over cuts. McCabe said: “While Scotland’s councils are under a legal duty to set a balanced budget, it is increasingly likely that in the years ahead many councillors will not have the appetite for making the level of cuts that will be required to achieve this.
“We may just walk away and let the Scottish Government send in commissioners to do their dirty work.
“The situation is that serious but unfortunately the Scottish Government is in denial.”
He said ministers’ focus was on the “regressive and irresponsible council tax freeze bribe”, which would not benefit people on low incomes.
The Scottish Government was asked for comment.