Budget focus on building

COUNCILLORS WILL be urged to embrace a £1 million boost to housebuilding in Perth and Kinross when they set the council budget this week.

The Liberal Democrat group is calling for the investment from general funds to accelerate council house developments.

“Good housing is the cornerstone on which we build our community,” said Lib Dem group leader councillor Peter Barrett ahead of Thursday’s meeting.

“We want to invest £1m of the oneoff headroom funding and deliver more council houses.

“We will need to get the Scottish Government to approve this but I am confident that we’ll get that — in fact, we can challenge the Scottish Government to make a contribution, too.

“At a time when construction rates are so low and demand for social housing is so high, we as a council need to step up our response.

“This investment will have the added bonus of putting money directly into the local economy and construction sector.”

With the authority again constrained by the council tax freeze Mr Barrett and his deputy, Councillor Willie Wilson, outlined what they believe should be priorities.

“We want to invest in our infrastructure,” said Mr Wilson.

“We will use substantial one-off resources to repair roads and pavements and improve street lighting. “We are putting over £1m towards major roads maintenance as well as repairing potholes and trip hazards to make our streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

“We will make them safer still by investing substantially in replacing streetlights with modern, energy eff icient lamps which will save the council money in the long term and provide better lighting.

“We want residents to be safer and to feel safer in their neighbourhoods.”

“Good housing is the cornerstone on which we build our community.”

The calls for investment have failed to impress council administration leader, councillor Ian Miller, however.

“My first reaction is that this is no more than a spurious attempt to grab a headline in advance of the real budget-setting debate which takes place on Thursday,” he said.

“Over recent years, the administration budgets have added considerably to the funding available for new council housing across Perth and Kinross.

“We have also invested in a range of infrastructure projects which have had a marked impact on our local economy, including extra investment in our roads.

“There is nothing new in these proposals and they merely reflect the priorities which have already been set by the council.”

Picture: John Stevenson. The Dundee Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society held its children’s competition at Newport Parish Church Hall over the weekend. The Bill Forrester Cup and the George Mechan Trophy were won by Blairgowrie’s Happy Feet Dancers, taught by Tracey Oram. Runners up Dundee RSCDS Juniors were taught by Sue Steele. Pictured are some of the young competitors and, on the back row from left, RSCDS vice chairman for Dundee John White, judge Robin Lambie and organiser Helen Lawrenson.

Peter Barrett