Moray Council leader unhappy at Scottish Government treatment
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MORAY Council leader Stewart Cree (Keith-Cullen) is happy the administration’s budget has been approved but remains unhappy at the treatment of the council by the Scottish Government.
"I am not happy at the way we have been treated and the way democracy has been over-ridden by a dictat.
"If we are to have local government, funding for it must have a local element but we don’t have that if people in Moray are not allowed to decide what is appropriate for their needs."
The Independent-Tory administration had wanted to increase Council Tax by 18% to protect frontline services, however, the threat of financial penalties from the Scottish Government forced it to back down.
He said it was only because the administration had built up a prudent level of reserves that the books could be balanced in the next year.
However, Cllr Cree said a bigger crisis was looming unless there is a "really significant consultation" between local and central government.
He said a warning of £14.3 million savings required in 2017-18 was not alarmist but simple mathematics.
The increase in charges for services will take effect from April 1, with school meals and music tuition going up from the start of the 2016-17 school year in August.
