Change of tune on budget cuts possible
Big Noise funding could free up Stirling Council cash
Unpopular Stirling Council budget cuts, including nursery hour cuts and allotment charge rises, could be reversed if the Scottish Government agrees to fully fund Big Noise projects in Stirling.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that the Scottish Government would come up with £1.5million after Snpled councils in Dundee and Aberdeen cut 100 per cent of the funding they provided for the projects in their area.
The cash would also help the projects in Raploch and Fallin after Stirling Council cut their contribution by 10 per cent in the latest budget.
However, the council’s Labour administration says, had they known the Scottish Government was going to fork out, they could have similarly gone for a whole funding cut, freeing up £392,000 and avoiding a host of other budget cuts.
Now council leader Chris Kane has said that, given it would be unfair to do otherwise, the authority will expect confirmation that the whole sum will be provided.
He said: “Had we known the Scottish Government were prepared to fund Big Noise projects, we would have taken the opportunity to use this £392,000 to offset difficult decisions in other areas.”
At a special meeting of the council on Thursday, Labour presented a motion to reverse the cuts - which would have required two thirds of the council to vote to suspend standing orders on a six- month rule on revisiting decision.
However all SNP councillors, and independent councillor Alasdair Macpherson, voted against it, saying it was premature to do so without confirmation of the exact sum the Scottish Government would be providing and how it would be routed.
Following a fractious debate, councillors then unanimously agreed to pursue further details about the funding and then reconvene in around two weeks by which time it was hoped officers would have firmer information.
During the meeting, chief finance officer Kirsty Stanners said the council had had no direct contact or clarification so far about the funding and the only information known was the public announcement made by the Scottish Government.
At the meeting, Councillor Kane said: “The First Minister has said she will step in and fund Big Noise and made it clear that’s her intention. We would hope the chamber collectively will take the opportunity to take the First Minister at her word and we can take the opportunity to reverse some of the cuts.”
However, SNP councillor Jim Thomson said: “The full statement says it’s conditional. We don’t know what our share will be. Do we cherry pick which ones we want and then if we only get £300,000 look at what falls out.”
Councillor Susan Mcgill (SNP) added: “What is the contingency plan if we go ahead today and find out it’s not £392,000 we are getting. We are just increasing anxiety for people. It’s better to wait and get the information and take it from there.”
Conservative councillor Rachel Nunn said, however: “If the Scottish Government reinstated the £44,000 [Stirling Council cut from Sistema] that would be very unfair to this council.
“If the £1.5m was given to Sistema and we retained only the £44,000 cut then Sistema might grow its operation in another local authority area, which would be great for the children of Scotland, but would be unfair to Stirling.
“That’s why I think it’s important to ensure that Stirling is treated equally fairly and we are able to share the money we do have with the wider people of Stirling.”
Independent councillor Alasdair Macpherson said he would vote to reverse the cuts as soon as the figures were “on the table”, but that there was “no trust” between him and the Labour group.
Among budget savings the Labour administration say they would reverse should the £392,000 funding be provided for the Stirling Big Noise projects are: a rise in Bridge of Allan allotment charges; £4000 cut to the Smith Art Gallery and Museum budget; cut to Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise budget; changes to provision at Aberfoyle Nursery and Fintry Nursery; rise in nursery fees.
They say they would also reinstate free bulky uplifts for the over 60s, reinstate the Springkerse Park and Ride bus; halt an increase in charges for MECS user; and stop a reduction in digital inclusion support in libraries.