Angus Council finance chief hits out over lack of funding.

INVESTMENT: Angus finance supremo calls for more funds to help schools and social care

Angus Council’s leadership team have given a cautious welcome to the expected announcement today that the Scottish Government will fund the remaining £35 million required to construct the Cross Tay Link Road at Perth.

The money, part of the Tay Cities Deal, is the final piece in the £120 million jigsaw that will deliver the crossing, which Perth council leader Murray Lyle has described as “fundamental to Perth’s future prosperity.”

However, Angus Council’s finance supremo and deputy leader, Councillor Angus Macmillan Douglas, was more cautious.

“This investment in infrastructure is welcome,” he said.

“These ‘big ticket’ projects are certainly attention grabbing, and I am sure it will provide endless photo opportunities for SNP ministers looking visionary in hi-vis vests and hard hats, but we need to compare and contrast these announcements with the day-today realities faced by local authorities across Scotland, especially Angus.

“The fact is that we as a council have been underfunded for three years in a row, and this is likely to continue for at least another three years, and this under-funding is causing extraordinary damage to the fabric of our society.

“This situation means that it is becoming increasingly challenging to maintain and improve standards in our schools, which will negatively impact the future life chances of our young people.

“It also means that meeting rocketing social care costs is now beyond difficult, so keeping elderly and vulnerable people living in their own homes for longer is again leaving us at the front line of decision-making with extremely difficult choices to make.”

Angus Council’s leader, Councillor David Fairweather, welcomed news of the announcement: “There has been a significant amount of negotiation to deliver the Tay Cities Deal, and I look forward to the new bridge boosting the economy of the region as a whole,” he said. “This money is a significant part of the final £50m pledged by the Scottish Government, and I hope that the first minister will also be delivering projects with a more Angus focus as part of her announcements.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “As part of our previously stated commitment to invest £200m in the area, the Scottish Government has already committed to invest £150m in the Tay Cities Region Deal and will shortly set out details of the allocation of a further £50m into the Tay cities region.

“We’re delivering a total funding package of £11.1 billion for local authorities next year — a real terms increase of over £210m for essential public services — including Angus Council.”

The fact is weasa council have been underfunded for three years . COUNCILLOR ANGUS MACMILLAN DOUGLAS

Councillor Angus Macmillan Douglas, left, was cautious about today’s expected announcement, though Angus Council leader David Fairweather says he was pleased to hear the news.