The Conservative Councillor group in Moray council has hit out at the SNP administration as key election promises made by their party are not being paid for by the government but instead forcing councils to check behind the sofa for spare change.
This week’s education committee received papers on early learning and childcare with a £1.2m black hole not covered by the Scottish Government, the roll-out of the free school meals with a potential £2.3m black hole, and an as yet unknown figure on the role out of free music tuition.
Commenting is Cllr Tim Eagle (Buckie Ward);
“We all know the SNP love their election promises, the problem is whilst they can seem attractive to voters more often than not they are never funded by the Scottish Government. Instead council budgets already severely stretched are made to cover the costs of election promises made by Nicola Sturgeon and her ministers and lauded by local SNP councillors.
“We could be looking at a £4million black hole in these three items alone without even considering all the other promises that have been made and not funded. History is a great predictor of the future and whilst the Scottish Government and no doubt the loyal followers of the Moray administration will say this is all in discussion we know from experience that money will never come.
“These commitments could have severe implications for our ambitions to re-open public toilets, re-employ school crossing patrollers and provide funding for the control of seagulls.
“Even more serious, is that funding these new measures will lead to cuts to our education and social care budgets, which as they are the largest funding areas are bound to be in the firing line when cuts are necessary.
“I don’t disagree with what the SNP are wanting to do, all these things are worthwhile but it can’t be left to councils to fund them in already tight budgets. The SNP must pay the bill."
Further commenting is Cllr Claire Feaver (Forres Ward);
“I am personally delighted to see music instruction being free to everyone along with free school meals.
“It is absolutely right that we should provide for our young people but I also think the same for public toilets, there are many people who need to use these facilities whilst out from parents with young children to the most vulnerable in our society
“Equally home school link workers or school crossing patrollers are vital yet we have seen these cut in Moray over the last 5 years.
“This is because as widely reported councils have faced a slash in funding over the years alongside a huge increase in demands from the SNP government which are almost all underfunded.
“If the SNP truly want us to deliver these priorities then they must recognise the importance of seeing councils as partners to that delivery, fund them appropriately and work with them to make sure it is a success. At the moment the division between them is growing."
