Budget deal welcome

The SNP Group on South Lanarkshire Council has given a wholehearted welcome to the extra funding for local councils following stage one of the Scottish Budget being passed on Thursday, February 2.

Support from the Scottish Greens saw stage one of the budget passed and guarantees that every subsequent stage will also pass.

The deal between the Scottish Greens and the SNP at Holyrood saw an extra allocation of £160 million to local councils.

For South Lanarkshire Council this amounts to an extra £7.778m of revenue funding and £1.624m of capital funding totalling £9.402m extra funding coming to the council.

When the extra income of £5.750m from council tax bands E and above is added this will allow many of the proposed savings to be removed from the package.

SLC schools have also recently been allocated funds from the pupil equity fund. This allocation is based on entitlement to free school meals and will be paid directly to individual schools.

This funding has been targeted at the most vulnerable children and will be used to close the attainment gap experienced by youngsters facing disadvantage.

The SNP group is currently finalising its position on savings.

It makes a pleasant change to be able to comment on improvements in funding and is a clear demonstration of the commitment of the Scottish Government to local services and the best start for our young people.

Sheena Wardhaugh, SNP group education spokeswoman