Local elected representatives have said that councillors could be left carrying the can for increasing council tax and cutting services in the wake of the SNP Government’s budget last week.
Highlands and Islands Scottish Conservative MSP Donald Cameron said: “Despite receiving a record financial settlement from the UK Government, last week the SNP/Green coalition chose to cut the funding that goes to our local councils, including Argyll and Bute Council. It means that councillors will be left carrying the can, with the choice of cutting services for local people, or hiking up council tax."
“At the same time, the SNP have pocketed over £300m of taxpayers’ money for preparations for a second independence referendum. It displays a shocking sense of priorities at a time like this.”
Councillor Yvonne McNeilly (Cowal Ward), Policy Lead for Education on Argyll and Bute Council, said: “This terrible settlement has been roundly condemned by COSLA, which represents all 32 local authorities in Scotland, and no wonder. It is inexcusable that SNP ministers are leaving it to us to choose between cuts and tax rises while they squander millions of pounds on their pet political projects. It just shows a lack of respect for all the work we have been doing to protect services and get our communities through the Covid pandemic.”
For impact on council finances: Scottish Budget: Councils plan 'full-frontal attack' amid tension with Holyrood | The National
For spending on independence referendum:
The SNP’s latest budget reaffirms their plans for another divisive independence referendum. The budget document says: ‘We will continue to demonstrate our commitment to EU values, our alignment with EU policy priorities, and make the necessary preparations for a Scottish referendum and subsequently for re-joining the EU as an independent member state.’ Furthermore the budget allocations show that the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture budget is going up by £21 million from £349.5 million in 2021-22 to £370.5 million in 2022-23. (Scottish Government, Budget 2022-23, 9 December 2021, p.95)
Background to UK funding here: Record £41 billion per year for Scotland in budget - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)