Party politics put aside to agree council budget
Pandemicrecoveryandclimatechangemainissues
Pandemic recovery and climate change are set to be at the heart of South Lanarkshire Council’s budget for 2021-22 after cross-party talks ended in agreement.
A new climate change fund as well as funds to help businesses and families overcome the impact of the pandemic are to be set up under proposals agreed by SNP, Conservative, Lib Dem and independent councillors.
Chair of the cross-party budget working group Councillor Margaret Cooper (Avondale and Stonehouse) said: “The four groups involved can be proud that they did the hard work of delivering a budget that will benefit the whole of South Lanarkshire.”
Council tax will not be increased following additional Scottish Government funding for councils that choose to freeze the tax rate, while around £10 million is set to be invested across schools, economy, environment, pavements and roads.
There will be no change to free school transport entitlement or the provision of a free nursery place from a child’s third birthday after councillors agreed provisionally agreed to remove a swathe of cuts from the council’s savings proposals for 2021-22 following additional funding from the Scottish Government.
A new £2m education recovery fund to help children and young people overcome the impact of the pandemic and restrictions on their education and wellbeing is to be set up as well as a new £2m climate change fund to improve and protect local environments.
Councillors also agreed to set up a £3m Get South Lanarkshire Working fund to help local businesses and jobs following the pandemic.
New investment of around £2m has been agreed for the maintenance and repair of both roads and pavements,
with further investment totalling around £1m in other areas, including winter gritting.
Councillor Cooper said: “It is never easy for groups to overcome their differences, but politicians need to be willing to put the public interest before party politics. Local services are too important to be used to play games.
“From the point of view of the independent group, we wanted to protect education as well as community and enterprise resources.
“We were also determined to keep providing free nursery places from a child’s third birthday, and not go back to the situation where many children had to wait months for the next term.
“This cross-party budget achieves these things. It is a very positive outcome.”
SNP council leader John Ross (Hamilton South) added: “Whilst there are huge differences between us, the political make up of the council means that compromise is necessary.
“I would like to thank the opposition groups that engaged in the cross-party talks over the past few months and worked hard a reach a consensus in the best interests of everyone across South Lanarkshire.
I am proud of our achievements as an administration so far and this year’s budget allows us to go further than ever before.
“Not only will we protect front-line services, but we will invest in our economic and educational recovery from the pandemic, as well as tackling poverty and climate change across South Lanarkshire.”
Over the past few weeks, the four political groups have been locked in intensive talks held via video conferencing due to coronavirus restrictions to see if they could reach agreement on a consensus budget.
The Labour group were invited to participate but declined after preconditions including maintaining school holiday lunch clubs and breakfast clubs weren’t met.
Lib Dem group leader, Councillor Robert Brown (Rutherglen South), said: “The council budget deal is a tribute to good cross-party partnership – from which the Scottish and UK Governments could learn lessons.
“The Liberal Democrats had three main aims. By behaving like grown-ups, talking to our opponents and making a forceful case we have achieved them.
“We secured extra funding that will
kickstart support to help children and young people overcome the damage done to their education and wellbeing by the pandemic.
“More of the deteriorating pavements in our local communities will now be resurfaced. Our new Get South Lanarkshire Working and Climate Change funds will target vital economic recovery and help protect the environment.
“I want South Lanarkshire to lead the country with our COVID recovery programme and this budget is a step towards that.”
Conservative group leader Councillor Alex Allison (Clydesdale East) added: “The huge challenges brought about by the coronavirus has made it even more important for council groups to put aside party politics and work together.Under the current circumstances, the Conservative Group believes this to be a good budget that protects key services and supports our communities during this difficult time. I would like to thank the council officers who have helped in the budget process.”
Councillors are set to approve the proposed cross-party budget at a virtual meeting of the full council today (Wednesday, February 24).