Lanarkshire councillors respond to 2024 Scottish budget

Lanarkshire’s councillors have reacted to the 2024 Scottish budget, which includes the end of last year’s unexpected council tax freeze and promised funding for the new Monklands Hospital. Both council leaders in the area are currently dissecting the details of the recent announcement made by finance secretary Shona Robison at Holyrood last week. The SNP groups in North and South Lanarkshire have commended the budget for providing “record funding for local government.” The budget includes £1.7 billion allocated for NHS Lanarkshire, showing an increase of £224 million from the previous year. Additionally, capital funding for three healthcare projects, including the new hospital at Wester Moffat, was announced. Health secretary Neil Gray, also the Airdrie & Shotts MSP, highlighted the overall budget’s positive impact on local residents and urged other parties to support the funding.

South Lanarkshire Council leader Joe Fagan stated that their cross-party budget working group will convene in the following weeks to scrutinize the local government settlement and its implications for local services and council tax payers. Fagan emphasized the importance of ensuring that core funding for Scotland’s councils is on the rise and that any additional costs imposed by the central government are adequately funded. Meanwhile, his North Lanarkshire counterpart, Jim Logue, expressed his approval of lifting the council tax freeze, which had led to significant cuts to essential services in previous years. Logue stressed the need for decisions about council tax to be made locally and called for the Scottish Government to pass on the 3.4% increase in real-terms funding to North Lanarkshire without conditions.

The respective SNP group leaders, John Ross and Tracy Carragher, praised the budget under the new first minister, John Swinney, for increasing teacher funding and investing significantly in key services. They urged the Labour administrations to effectively utilise the increased funding for the benefit of local communities. Councillor Robert Brown of South Lanarkshire’s Liberal Democrats critiqued the budget, describing it as having “a strong sense of smoke and mirrors.” Brown expressed concerns about funding for councils and essential services, especially amidst the ongoing financial pressures faced by local authorities.

In response, Health Secretary Neil Gray highlighted the positive steps in the budget, including funding for the new Monklands Hospital replacement project, as well as provisions for winter fuel payments and support for hospices. Gray emphasised the importance of supporting initiatives that benefit the community, urging MSPs to back these projects for the welfare of local residents. Central Scotland representative Richard Leonard also welcomed the confirmation of the replacement Monklands Hospital and stressed the need for a definitive timetable to ensure the project’s timely progress.

In conclusion, Lanarkshire councillors are closely examining the implications of the 2024 Scottish budget on local government and essential services. While some have welcomed certain aspects of the budget, concerns have been raised about the overall funding allocations and the impact on council operations. As discussions continue, it is crucial for all parties involved to collaboratively work towards ensuring that the budget effectively addresses the needs and priorities of the Lanarkshire community.