Continued Cuts to Council are Unforgivable

Continued cuts to council budget are ‘unforgiveable’

This week’s Scottish Budget dishes out another real-terms cut to core council funding – and Labour councillors say that's unforgivable.

Local authorities will once again face a real-terms cut to funding that will drain resources from frontline services and stretch council workforces. Councils face surging costs and inflation, under-funded policy requirements from the Scottish Government and an inadequate financial settlement. 

Accounting for inflation, real-terms cuts to local government across Scotland are estimated to be in excess of £300 million. 

Councillor Joe Fagan, Leader of South Lanarkshire Labour, said: “The SNP Government have yet again imposed real-terms cuts on council budgets and that is utterly unforgiveable. Local services have been diminished, the council workforce has been stretched to breaking point and communities all around us are in decline. This Budget should have started the process of restoring council funding and rebuilding our communities. Instead, it will mean continued cuts and hardship.

“Your Labour councillors will always fight for South Lanarkshire’s fair share of public spending. We will not be silent when our communities are deprived of vital resources. We will demand a fairer settlement for our area.”