Today the Moray Conservative Councillor group on Moray council has released its priorities for the forthcoming budget.
Priorities include limiting price increases, accept the Scottish Government offer to freeze council tax, as well investment in education, a new athletics track, a 4g football pitch in Forres, an increase in budget for roads maintenance and bringing forward the capital spend on Foths Bridge replacement.
Commenting on todays announcement by the group is Cllr Tim Eagle;
While the overall priority is to limit price increases for council services, the Group is keen to prioritise investment in education to address the growing attainment gap affecting too many young people in Moray.
Additionally the Group is arguing the case for a targeted group of investments including:
· a new athletics track,
· a firm commitment to deliver a 4g football pitch in Forres,
· an increase in budget for roads maintenance and bringing forward the capital spend on Foths Bridge replacement.
Commenting on today’s announcement by the group is Cllr Tim Eagle;
"Now more than ever we need to show commitment to core areas of the council, and that means we cannot have a budget of cuts this year. Our principle desire is to invest in educational attainment and to that end we have asked officers to prepare plans for a significant increase in spend over the next 2 years to help our hardworking teachers support pupils as and when they get back to school."
"On top of this we will argue for more money for roads maintenance and general repairs to ensure that as the investment from the UK Government in the Moray Growth Deal becomes reality we have the infrastructure ready to accept all that comes with it."
"To support tourism, we will support plans to invest creating waste disposal points and stopping places for caravans and mobile homes. Making sure that Moray is open and ready for the staycations of the future and argue for the allocation of capital spend to top this up in the future.
"We want to go further though. Sport and leisure is often forgotten amongst other priorities and there are 2 long term projects we have long wanted to see. A new 4g football pitch in Forres, long awaited and much needed will allow for all year round use for both the school and community groups and we will seek an assurance that this will be delivered in the capital plan in 22/23.
"An athletics track has long been desired in Moray. We have many fantastic athletes who have trained and worked hard on current facilities but we believe a new track will ensure we showcase the talents of Morays local people, young and old long into the future. We will propose to introduce a capital spend on an athletics track in 22/23 with the sports team working on that proposal with the interested partners this year.
"Not least we will call on the council to consider bringing forward the planned capital spend on Foths bridge which has for too long been closed effecting residents in the area.”
"These proposals come on top of cross party work already in place to modernise and improve many areas of the council and the Conservative group remain committed to this work which includes significant plans to address poverty in Moray and support education.
"No-one wants to see a political fight this year, our proposals represent under only around 1% of the overall council budget, we need to come together as councillors to show a positive vision for Moray which will recover from Coronavirus with real strength and we look forward to negotiating with other groups on the budget this year."
