Opposition groups say Highland Council budget 'does nothing to improve life in the Highlands'
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In an incredibly rare move the leaders of four of Highland Council’s opposition groups have issued a joint statement slamming the budget proposals and criticising the leadership of the local authority.
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The Liberal Democrat’s Alasdair Christie, the Conservative’s Ruraidh Stewart, Highland Alliance’s Duncan Macpherson and Labour’s Andrew MacIntosh are united in their condemnation of the £602 million budget.
Last week, we exclusively revealed the budget plans ahead of their publication detailing the planned cuts to adult social care, hikes in fees, lack of roads spending and the council's responses and its hopes to reform.
In it they hit out at the budget that they argue “does nothing to improve education in our schools, fix our roads or stop population decline in our region” while increasing fees and charges.
They state that the proposals in the budget have “no real substance to them that leaves questions over whether the council will in fact cover the financial gap” – a problem that if it cannot be resolved will result in more cuts.
The group leaders also turned their fire on the SNP-Green government in Holyrood which it claims has “no interest in local government” and has “demonstrated a lack of understanding of our Highland needs.”
They added: The Highlands “does not need councillors within an administration that have no intention of calling out the gross inadequacies of a government that has shown through its continual underfunding.”
The full council will meet tomorrow to determine its budget for the next financial year.
The statement in full from the group leaders
“The gap in the Highland Council finances is a staggering £113 million this is primarily down to years of underfunding by the SNP government and failure to reform the Council Tax system whilst wasting money on bottle return schemes, ferries and pushing ahead with further centralisation in the central belt.
“The Highland Council budget as proposed by the SNP and Independent councillors does nothing to improve life in the Highlands, it will result in the removal of critical support services from vulnerable members of our community.
“It does nothing to improve education in our schools, fix our roads or stop population decline in our region. The budget imposes increases in fees and charges at a time when folk are struggling and has proposals that have no real substance to them that leaves questions over whether the council will in fact cover the financial gap.
“The Highlands needs investment in everyday services. It needs a strong leadership within the council that stands up to the powers in Edinburgh – it does not need councillors within an administration that has no intention of calling out the gross inadequacies of a government that has shown through its continual underfunding that it has no interest in local government or, by not recognising the unique challenges faced by us, has demonstrated a lack of understanding of our Highland needs.”
