Council Leader & Deputy Leader join COSLA calls for Scottish Government to reverse historical cuts
Highland Council’s Leader and Deputy Leader say they are fully behind COSLA’s budget lobbying campaign calling for adequate funding from the Scottish Government in its spending plans in the forthcoming Scottish Budget.
This week COSLA launched its Live Well Locally Budget campaign which demands that the Scottish Government’s 2022/23 Scottish Budget provides fair funding and flexibility so Local Government can lead local action on recovery from COVID-19.
Leader of Highland Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson, said: “We agree with COSLA that economic recovery should recognise and respect the central role Local Government plays, however we need fair funding to respond.”
COSLA says that Local Government can “no longer continue to be the poor relation it has been in recent Budgets,” and that December 9 Budget represents a fantastic opportunity to reset Scottish public spending in a way that empowers councils to achieve their shared ambition for communities.
Deputy Leader at Highland Council, Cllr Alasdair Christie, said: “Highland Council is key to creating the conditions for people within our communities to ‘Live Well Locally’ whether that be in a rural or urban setting.
“The local environment within our communities has been even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic and Highland Council needs to be suitably empowered and funded properly to allow us to create an environment where people can ‘Live Well Locally’.”
Highland Council Leader Margaret Davidson went on to say: “We support the Scottish Government’s ambitions in relation to economic transformation, but that has to start in every community with the day-to-day services we all need and with fair wages for our staff.”
Councils still experience restrictions around how and when funding can be used – with many highly directed pots of money. Local authorities need to be left to provide services in a way that works for local people. Pressures are building on services, with a combination of significant backlogs (e.g. planning and building control), unknown demand on services such as children’s mental health and increasing costs in construction and energy.
Cllr Davidson added: “I want to see a minimum increase of 3% to our core budgets.”
Highland Council Deputy Leader Cllr Christie said: “Councils have significant spending power and the potential to build local wealth. Every pound spent in a local area – on pay, goods and services, and on capital projects – stays in and strengthens the local economy.
“Councils have invaluable local intelligence that should be valued and fully utilised – about local businesses, colleges and universities, key sectors, local labour markets, skills and training needs.”
He added: “Over recent years, Local Government’s total funding has reduced in real terms – and at the same time, Scottish Government has prioritised & ring-fenced spend in areas like education & social work.
“So, while spend in these areas has gone up, less resource overall means it has been at the expense of areas like economic development, roads & transport, all critical in attracting investment, developing businesses, creating jobs and addressing climate change.”