South Lan needs £140m to reverse cuts and thrive again

The SNP Government could reverse years of brutal cuts to South Lanarkshire communities in next month’s Scottish Budget and help us thrive again - if they provide a £140 million boost to the area.

Local government umbrella body COSLA has called for historic council cuts to be reversed. They say it will take an extra £720 million in revenue funding Scotland-wide for councils just to stand still. To survive councils need at least £1 billion more but to thrive again, and move on from years of austerity, councils need an extra £1.6 billion in revenue funding.

Based on an approximate 6% share, South Lanarkshire requires £99.48 million of additional revenue for day-to-day spending to thrive again. COSLA are also calling for a landmark £730 million boost to capital budgets, which would bring approximately £43.8 million more capital funding to South Lanarkshire.

South Lanarkshire Labour have vowed to fight for the area’s fair share of spending, to close the gap between current funding levels and what COSLA say is needed for communities to thrive again after the Covid crisis.

Councillor Joe Fagan, Leader of South Lanarkshire Labour, said: “Labour councillors will always fight for South Lanarkshire’s fair share of public spending. Over the past four and a half years, we are the only group on the Council who have.

“Cuts have consequences and the evidence of decline is all around us - the lack of maintenance, the lack of frontline staff, the buildings falling apart. Neglect council funding and you neglect the communities our councils are supposed to serve.

“What should concern us most is that services essential to our recovery are being stretched to breaking point. The health and social care system is under huge pressure and councils do not have the capacity to deliver the economic transformation needed to lift us out of the crisis.

“If national politicians, whether it’s Nicola Sturgeon or Boris Johnson, are serious about building back better then they must give our communities the tools to do it. That means at least £140 million more flowing into South Lanarkshire that can be invested in council services, local infrastructure and creating a better life for everyone who lives and works here.”