North-east councils will 'benefit hugely' from Scottish Government budget, says MSP
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AN increase to the budgets of two north-east councils has been hailed by a local MSP.
Banffshire and Buchan Coast SNP MSP Karen Adam has said "despite the financial constraints of Westminster control, services and people in Aberdeenshire and Moray" have been prioritised in the Scottish Government's budget for 2022/23,
The local authorities are set to benefit from over £13.2 billion, announced by the Deputy First Minister, for councils in the Local Government Settlement 2023-24 – a real terms increase of 1.3 per cent since Budget Act 2022-23. Ms Adam’s Banffshire and Buchan Coast constituency covers part of both local authority areas.
In what has been described as "the most challenging budget settlement since devolution", Mr Swinney announced that "instead of providing the flat-cash position set out in the Resource Spending Review, [the Scottish Government is] now increasing the resources available to local government next year by over £550 million".
Ms Adam, said: "The financial pressures on governments right now are incredibly heavy and it is at times like these that governments have to make tough choices and, ultimately, decide what matters to them – so I welcome the SNP Scottish Government prioritising councils like Aberdeenshire and Moray, the services they provide and people they serve, despite the financial constraints of Westminster control.
"Both councils will benefit hugely from the SNP government's decision to go beyond the commitments made in the Resource Spending Review and provide over £550 million funding for local government compared to the RSR position.
"There is no doubt that this budget takes place at a time of enormous challenge, created by Westminster economic mismanagement and Brexit, causing the cost of living crisis, which is now putting huge strain on council services.
"At national and local level, the SNP in government will continue to do all it can with all that we have, to help people across my Banffshire and Buchan Coast constituency cope through this crisis and protect essential services. This budget settlement for local government will help in that endeavour – however, it is clear we could do so much more for people and communities across Scotland with the full powers and resources of independence."
However, Moray MP and Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross stated that the budget had actually "short-changed" authorities.
He continued: "This is shameless spin from Karen Adam.
"She is all too happy to trot out the SNP party line, rather than accept the reality of what John Swinney's budget means in reality for councils like Moray.
"Once again the SNP-Green government have short-changed our local authorities, running the risk of more services and jobs being lost.
"Even the SNP's President of Cosla, Shona Morrison has severely criticised John Swinney's settlement and the consequences it will have for councils.
"It is time the SNP-Green government gave a fair funding deal to councils like Moray to protect local services and local communities, and it is time Karen Adam stood up for that."
