Uproar over budget plan
South Lanarkshire politicians have shared their opinions on proposals to withdraw some leisure facilities in the area.
An online survey was launched last week by South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture (SLLC) asking locals to voice their thoughts on services across the area.
It forms part of SLLC’s third phase of consultation and focuses on the potential withdrawal of some facilities. This could see a number being closed if a community transfer or another arrangement for new operators to take over is not made.
A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture said: “Unprecedented budget pressures mean some extraordinarily difficult decisions are having to be made across public services. This includes South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture, which, as well as our existing financial gap, is facing a potential £1.5 million reduction in the income we receive from its biggest funder South Lanarkshire Council, which itself is having to save more than £20m this year.
“Through two public consultations we have asked local people to help us prioritise the services we provide. These have helped us consider the potential withdrawal of our service from some facilities as a possible saving. Affected staff have been informed of this and all potential savings will now be subject to further public consultation.
“The final decision will be taken by the Board of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture after South Lanarkshire Council’s budget meeting on 21 February where a decision on the £1.5 million reduction in South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture’s management fee will be taken.
“If the withdrawal of SLLC is agreed, we will work together to assist the community in finding ways in which it can continue to operate the services.”
Facilities in Cambuslang and Rutherglen included in the consultation are: Halfway Library, Cambuslang Library, Eastfield Community Centre, North Halfway Hall and Peter Brownlie and pitches.
In Clydesdale, the facilities are Braehead Hall, Carmichael Hall, Carstairs Junction Hall, Coulter Hall, Crawford Hall, Crossford Hall, Tom Craig Centre, Carstairs Community Centre, Douglas St Bride’s Hall, Forth Library, Pettinain Hall, Thankerton Hall and Hollandbush Golf Course.
Facilities in East Kilbride are: Calderwood Hall, Greenhills Hall, Greenhills Library, Kirktonholme Hall, Strathaven Park (seasonal activity), Westwood Hall and Stewartfield Community Centre.
In the Hamilton area the facilities are: Blantyre Library, Ferniegair Hall, High Blantyre Hall, Hillhouse Library, Tileworks Park and pitches, Uddingston Community Centre, Whitehill Neighbourhood Centre, Bothwell Library, The June Stewart Centre, Netherburn Community Hall and TACT Community Hall.
Council Leader Joe Fagan said: “SLLC is the charitable trust tasked with delivering leisure and culture services on behalf of the council.
“No decisions have yet been made but the trust’s board will need to agree a balanced Budget in the coming weeks. This will be extremely challenging due to unprecedented costs and the chronic underfunding of Scotland’s councils and our leisure and culture providers. Our council can work with SLLC to manage budget pressures but it does not have the resources to reverse all government funding cuts. Where SLLC decides to withdraw from a council facility, we will explore community-based solutions and alternatives. In many places, we are working with communities already to sustain services and facilities.”
SNP MSP Mairi McAllan, who represents Clydesdale and is Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, said: “The SNP Scottish Government has proposed an above-inflation increase to South Lanarkshire Council for 2024/25 of 6.6 per cent. However, the toxic legacy that Labour’s PFI deals have left South Lanarkshire Council continues to cost millions of pounds every year, removing vital funds.
“Labour’s reckless handling of our public finances continues to rob South Lanarkshire Council of funds which could be put towards delivering better local services. Labour should apologise for this troublesome legacy that they’ve left for South Lanarkshire Council and local authorities across the country.”
Leader of the South Lanarkshire Liberal Democrats group, Robert Brown, said: “There have been no decisions made as yet and the consultation is to get public views on the leisure trust’s proposals.
“No councillor in any party wants to close local facilities and Liberal Democrats are working hard with the trust and council officials to try to find solutions.
Councillor Richard Nelson from the Scottish Conservative group, said: “I urge the public to contact their local MSPs, urging them to reject the SNP’s spending plans and demand fairer funding for South Lanarkshire. The SNP deserve to realise the damage their disastrous tax-and-axe budget is doing to local communities and public services.”
Locals have until February 15 to take part in the survey which can be accessed on the SLLC website.