Scots to be hit harder in their pockets than ever before

This month, the SNP Government announced their spending plans for the coming year, as they finally pulled the curtain on the Scottish Budget for 2023 - 24.

Each year, this announcement is one of the most important events on the political calendar, as it reveals which public services will receive much-needed funding boosts, and which will see cuts.

This year, however, the stakes were even higher.

With the SNP Government receiving the largest block grant in history, and with the cost of living crisis set to continue, hopes were high that the SNP would produce a budget that truly delivers for public services across the country.

What we actually received was yet another budget that failed to deliver on its potential.

Services will be squeezed, businesses will suffer, and taxpayers will be hit in their pockets even harder than before.

Not content with Scotland already being the highesttaxed part of the UK, the SNP have decided to hit Scottish taxpayers harder still.

Over 1.4 million Scots are already paying more tax than they would elsewhere in the UK.

Following this budget, half a million Scots will see their taxes rise even further – including many teachers, doctors and police officers.

Seemingly no SNP budget is complete without councils being left with less money to run vital services.

When announcing the budget, Finance Secretary John Swinney proudly boasted that local government will receive over £500million in additional funding compared to last year.

Sadly, however, the reality is somewhat different.

Analysis by COSLA has shown that local government would need a funding increase of around £1 billion just to deal with the additional pressures they’re currently facing – which is nearly double what they’re receiving.

When the budget was first announced in Parliament, I was able to raise this issue with John Swinney directly, only to be met with yet more government spin and denial of responsibility.

Stirling Council alone was facing a funding shortfall of £17million for the coming year, and following this month’s budget, public services across Stirling have never been more at risk.

For years, local government has had to bear the brunt of SNP cuts. If this budget taught us anything, it’s that this isn’t about to change any time soon – and communities will be all the worse for it.

This SNP Government has the power to deliver effective public services across Scotland. More than ever this year, they had the funding to deliver this.

Once again, however, they have delivered nothing more than yet another missed opportunity which shows where their real priorities lie.

Due to the SNP’S coalition with the Scottish Greens, this budget will get the support it requires in Parliament.

However, if they believe this budget will have the backing of the Scottish public, the SNP will be sorely mistaken.

Plans by Graham’s the Family Dairy to build 600 homes on Airthrey Kerse between Bridge of Allan and Stirling have been rejected by Scottish ministers.

The company wants to use money made from the housing development, which includes plans for 150 affordable homes, a new primary school and public park, to fund a £20m dairy plant at Craigforth.

Stirling Council had initially refused Graham’s plans in 2017 on the grounds that houses would be sited on greenbelt along with concerns about flooding and other issues before the application was referred to the Scottish Government.

But there has been a succession of planning decisions and appeals.

The local community, supported by local Green councillor Alasdair

Tollemache and MSP Mark Ruskell and several other local politicians, have continually challenged the application.

In their decision this week, Scottish ministers stated that they “concluded that the proposed development does not accord with the development plan and that the material considerations do not indicate it should nevertheless be granted permission.

“Ministers therefore agree with the Reporter’s recommendation that planning permission in principle be refused.”

This is the third time Scottish ministers have rejected the Graham’s proposals.

Bridge of Allan resident and Scottish Conservative MSP, Alexander Stewart said: “Our local community and many businesses will be breathing a big sigh of relief at this decision by the DPEA (Planning and Environmental Appeals

Division)’s Reporter on Wednesday. This proposal was previously refused by Stirling councillors in March 2016 with in excess of 440 letters of objection originally submitted, yet it was then taken to the Scottish Government, who sat on it for many hundreds of days.

“Indeed, it was the independent planning reporter’s view at the time that ‘potential benefits to the town do not outweigh the loss of a significant area of sensitive greenbelt land’ and I am delighted that the DPEA has essentially upheld Stirling Council’s original rationale in its rejection of the planning application; this flood plain could never have withstood such a development. But it needn’t have come to this.

“An inordinate amount of money and time has been wasted on this appeals process, the rightful rejection of which looks like it has been decided for precisely the same reasons as the original back in 2016; six years ago. Thankfully we can now all go about our business again, without this dark cloud hanging over us.”

Mid Scotland and Fife regional MSP Mark Ruskell said: “This proposed development has been a long standing issue locally, and the community have made it clear at every turn that they do not support it.

“Communities must be listened to when it comes to planning decisions like this – instead, they’ve had to go through a long and tortuous process to get this fanciful application rejected.

“It is time now for the developers to walk away, as it has been acknowledged time and time again that there are much more appropriate sites that could be used to meet Stirling’s housing needs.”

Green councillor for Dunblane and Bridge of Allan, Alasdair Tollemache, added: “This is great news for the local community and hopefully will mark the end of this protracted process. I would like to pay tribute to everyone who has stood against this proposed development. This is a win for protecting our environment.”

If no appeal is made to the Court of Session within six weeks, the ministers’ decision will be considered as final.

Graham’s the Family Dairy were contacted for comment.

Councils left with less money to run vital services we depend on

An inordinate amount of money and time has been wasted on this appeals process Alexander Stewart MSP