South Lanarkshire budget cuts less than first feared

Dec 17 2009 by David Wynn, Hamilton Advertiser

THERE was a tiny sprinkling of Christmas cheer at South Lanarkshire Council this week as it was revealed budget cuts for next year won’t be as harsh as first expected.

However, despite securing some unforeseen additional funding, the authority still has to find £17.5million worth of savings for 2010/11.

The figures were announced at yesterday’s (Wednesday) meeting of the executive committee at which councillors were told a Scottish Government payment of £3.372m relating to Private Public Projects (PPP) had not been factored into next year’s budget. This means SLC can use this cash to reduce the impact of swingeing cuts – which when first announced in the autumn were predicted to reach £21m for next year and a staggering £111m by 2013/14.

Despite being able to reduce this figure, next year’s savings are expected to affect almost every household in South Lanarkshire. Details of the exact services affected by the cuts will not be finalised until early next year.

But possibilities already identified include the closure of public toilets, increased charges for school meals and parking, the abolition of the £50 grant for pensioner households, a cut to the number of pupils eligible for free school transport, and the removal of cash support to gala days.

SLC also revealed plans to axe 140 middle-management jobs, generating savings of £3.6m.

Officials say the efficiency savings are necessary because of reductions in public sector funding arising from the bank bale out. SLC found out last month they were to receive just under £600m from the Scottish Government.

In the Council’s public magazine, chief executive Archie Strang said: “I have worked in local government for over 35 years.

“I can tell you that we are facing the biggest cut in council funding that I have ever known.

“It is the Scottish Government which determines how much we can spend in any year.

“So when the UK Government changes the overall level of funding for the public sector, including funding to the Scottish Government, the Scottish Government in turn cuts the amount of money to us, because it has less.”