Following the new document on local government funding by COSLA entitled ‘Respect our Communities: Protect Our Funding’ the leader of the local Conservative group Cllr Tim Eagle has commented on the importance more than ever of fair funding this year.
Cllr Tim Eagle said; “For every year I have been a councillor the body which represents all local authorities has issued a document detailing the importance of fair funding to councils. A document which clearly shows that there has been a real terms reduction in core grant funding since 2013. That is 7 years of real terms cut by the SNP.”
“This time of year we cry out for a better deal in the hope we can invest rather than slash services. All too often we are ignored and we find ourselves forced to balance budgets by increasing council tax and cutting services.”
“This year must be different”
“Councils have been there to provide public protection, social care, critical childcare and crisis grants. Hundreds of council workers volunteered to support emergency measures during the first lockdown. We have seen income fall dramatically as charges and commercial actives were closed, capital projects have been delayed, council tax income reduced and huge recovery costs.”
“To be left stranded now in an hour of need worse than ever before would be the biggest betrayal of communities in generations.”
“I cannot consider a budget which slashes services this year or one which increases significantly the financial burden on already strained households.”
“The UK Government has provided, now the SNP must prioritise and deliver for councils in return.”
