24/12/2022

Published Barrhead News On Line

www.barrheadnews.com/news/

Warning over impact of budget cuts on council services
23rd December


The leader of East Renfrewshire Council has warned that cuts in funding provided by the Scottish Government could have a major impact on vital services.

Owen O’Donnell hit out after a motion calling for “a fair settlement for local government” was passed at the latest full council meeting.

The Labour politician has warned that councillors are “being forced to make decisions with one-hand tied behind our back” as a result of “cuts being imposed on East Renfrewshire from the Scottish Government in Edinburgh.”

He also criticised SNP councillors for voting against his motion at last week’s meeting.

Councillor O’Donnell told the Barrhead News: “This was a chance to put aside our differences and put forward a strong, united front to demand a fair deal for East Renfrewshire.

“The SNP had the opportunity to back Labour’s motion calling on the Scottish Government to provide more funding for East Renfrewshire. I am disappointed that SNP councillors decided to vote against this.

“This is bigger than party politics. It’s about delivering vital local services for our communities.

“Our schools, libraries and leisure centres need more funding to ensure they can continue to deliver the highest-quality service.”

Councillor O’Donnell said that, since 2015, the Scottish Government has slashed East Renfrewshire’s budget by more than £80million.

“It’s not sustainable to expect local councils to keep delivering more services with less funding,” he added. “It’s clear that SNP councillors are more interested in serving the interests of the party hierarchy in Edinburgh, rather than delivering a fair settlement for East Renfrewshire.”

However, East Renfrewshire’s SNP group has accused Councillor O’Donnell of defending the UK Government by failing to back an amendment to his motion that would have called on Westminster to deliver more funding to Holyrood to be spent on council budgets.

Councillor Chris Lunday, who represents Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor for the SNP, said: “It is beyond belief that this motion has come forward without mentioning the UK Government, trying to lay blame solely on the Scottish Government after what the Tories have done to the economy.”

31/12/2022

Published Barrhead News On Line

www.barrheadnews.com/news/

East Renfrewshire: Fears for vital services as budget announced
30th December

By Jacob Nicol
Reporter
@JacobNicolNews

The Scottish Government has been accused of not doing enough to protect vital services in East Renfrewshire after details of local government funding were published.

East Renfrewshire Council is set to receive around £17million of extra funding from Holyrood chiefs next year.

The proposed settlement of £205.5m would provide a 8.2% increase in total revenue support for the local authority’s 2023/24 budget compared to the previous year.

But Labour MSP Neil Bibby, who represents East Renfrewshire as part of his West Scotland remit, has hit out at the provisional funding allocation.

He told the Barrhead News: “Ahead of this year’s budget, I called on the Deputy First Minister to protect communities in the west of Scotland who could least afford another round of austerity. Sadly, this has fallen on deaf ears.

“Instead of investing in these communities and helping us through the cost-of-living crisis, the Scottish Government in Edinburgh has passed on the Tory cuts [to councils] and public services will have to be cut.

“Yet again, we have been denied our fair share and the Scottish Government has no plan to revive economic activity in the west of Scotland or ensure long-term sustainable funding for schools and elderly care.”

Bosses at East Renfrewshire Council said they are “working through the details of the settlement” but the allocation “remains in line” with their forecasts.

A spokesperson added: “It is still expected we will face a £30million budget gap over the next three years.”

In total, councils in Scotland will receive extra revenue funding of £13.2billion in the next financial year, with a cash increase of £570m or 4.5%.

However, local government body Cosla has disagreed with these figures and said the cash increase could be just £71m once Scottish Government-mandated policies are paid for, while capital funding will remain flat for next year.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said a “fundamental shift” in how local services are delivered is needed.

He added: “I recognise the challenge which local councils face in delivering services during the current, bleak economic climate.

“The 2023/24 budget confirms that, despite the most turbulent, economic and financial context that most people can remember and the huge pressure on public finances, we are providing councils with a real terms budget increase of 1.3% next year.

“Local government had sought even more funding but, candidly, there was no way in the current climate we were going to be able to meet the request in full.”

“The entire country is having to make difficult choices, including government and local authorities, but we have managed to find an extra £570million for councils on top of last year’s budget allocations.”

A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

1/1/2023

Published Barrhead News On Line

www.barrheadnews.com/news/

Rent increases for council tenants will be kept ‘well below inflation’
3 hrs ago

Tenants in council houses will see their rents rise by an average of less than £5 per week, local authority leaders have pledged.

It comes after Scottish Government ministers reached an agreement with social landlords, such as councils and housing associations, that rent rises should remain below inflation for the next financial year.

Emergency legislation passed by Holyrood means rents are frozen until the end of March, with decisions to be made in the coming weeks over whether the freeze will continue to apply to the private rental sector after that.

Maureen Chalmers, community wellbeing spokeswoman at local government body Cosla, said: “Council leaders recognise the severe financial crisis many of our tenants and households are facing and have acted decisively to provide some assurance, despite the financial challenges councils face.

“Leaders recognise that the very high rates of inflation around the costs of heating and food disproportionately affect those on lower incomes and are acutely aware of the proportion of individuals’ income that is spent on accommodation in the rented sector and that this can vary considerably.”

Ms Chalmers pledged that council chiefs will “seek to reach agreement with tenants over any increase in rents for the year 2023/24.”

Patrick Harvie, Tenants’ Rights Minister, added: “Our emergency legislation has given people, whether they rent in the private or social rented sector, reassurance within their current tenancies through the worst of the winter, even as their other costs have been rising.

“We recognise the enormous pressures households are facing and, by making this announcement now, we aim to give social tenants advance notice and confidence that any rent increase will be well below inflation.

“The statements of intent from the social rented sector, based on consultations with tenants, will keep rents affordable while allowing social landlords to continue investing in essential services such as home improvements and maintenance.”

Sally Thomas, chief executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said: “We welcome the fact that the Scottish Government has worked closely with the sector to understand the evidence and avoid unintended consequences of this legislation and to find a collaborative way forward.”

11/01/2023

Published Barrhead News On Line

East Renfrewshire: Council workers face uncertain future
5 hrs ago


By Drew Sandelands
Local Democracy Reporter


As many as 550 jobs could be lost at East Renfrewshire Council over the next three years as the local authority tries to meet a £30million budget deficit.

That was the stark warning from council leader Owen O’Donnell yesterday as he warned of tough times ahead.

The Labour politician pledged to push for more money after a “very disappointing” budget settlement from the Scottish Government.

Following a budget consultation, he believes residents would prefer increased charges, such as a “higher than normal” council tax rise, rather than cuts to services.

Options drawn up for the consultation suggest major savings in the council’s education department – and he admitted there is “real worry” over the impact on pupil performance.

Reducing hours for primary school students would be a “last resort,” Councillor O’Donnell insisted.

He said: “No-one goes into politics to manage decline, you are there to invest and improve services. That’s just incredibly difficult with this budget environment.”

Before Christmas, acting finance secretary John Swinney announced an extra £550m for councils in the Scottish Government’s budget for 2023/24. He said this was a “real terms budget increase of 1.3% next year.”

Government figures showed East Renfrewshire would receive £222m – up from £205m in 2022/23 – a rise of around 8%.

However, Councillor O’Donnell says there has been “no effective change” and there is “a lot of smoke and mirrors.”

East Renfrewshire Council’s shortfall for the coming year is expected to be around £20m.

“There are some reserves which can help manage the timing of that but all using reserves does is just defer it,” the council leader said, describing the situation as “pretty grim.”

A budget strategy group is considering options to plug the gap and will take into consideration feedback from residents, with over 1,500 people submitting responses.

“Not surprisingly, education remains a key priority for residents,” Councillor O’Donnell said. “I think there is an anticipation from residents as well that, in order to reduce some of these cuts, we might have to consider higher than normal council tax increases.”

Asked if residents had favoured increased charges over cuts, he added: “I think they would, on balance. They would consider that.”

19/1/2023

Published Barrhead News On Line

www.barrheadnews.com/news/

East Renfrewshire: Owen O'Donnell raises budget cut fears
8 hrs ago

By Drew Sandelands
Local Democracy Reporter


The leader of East Renfrewshire Council has admitted the prospect of education being hit hard by a £30million budget gap is a “real worry.”

Councillor Owen O’Donnell spoke out as he shed light on the challenges faced by the local authority as it tries to plug the financial black hole.

East Renfrewshire has a reputation for high-quality education but there are fears this could change due to the severity of cuts that will be needed.

Council officials have reported a saving of £13.6m could be made from school management budgets but this could see funding for staff working with the lowest-performing 20% of children reduced, with fewer pupil support teachers in place.

Cutbacks could also see primary school pupils receiving 22.5 hours of education per week, rather than the current level of 25 hours.

Councillor O’Donnell said the situation is “heartbreaking” for the council’s education team, which has developed “the best schools in Scotland.”

The Labour politician added: “We know that’s important for the life chances of all the pupils within East Renfrewshire.”

More than 1,500 people submitted responses to a budget strategy group that is considering the various options to plug the financial gap.

Councillor O’Donnell said the feedback shows that education “remains a key priority for residents.”

These responses will be taken into consideration before the strategy group outlines the impact of proposed cuts.

Away from education, other savings options include changing the three-weekly waste collection to four-weekly, moving to a fortnightly food and garden waste collection and closing Barrhead’s household recycling service.

Reducing grass cutting in parks, closing grass football pitches, increasing burial charges and slashing the budget for road and pavement repairs are also on the table, with the council leader describing these options as “grades of terrible.”

Last week, we told how up to 550 jobs at the council could be lost over the next three years as savings are made.

Councillor O’Donnell has said the local authority is trying to protect “as many jobs and services as possible” but added: “We can’t protect everything.”

He added: “It’s a serious issue for the staff and it’s not great for morale when they know that this is hanging over the council.”

The budget shortfall for the 2023/24 financial year alone is expected to be around £20m.

Councillor O’Donnell has said he believes local residents would prefer increased charges, such as a “higher than normal” council tax rise, rather than cuts to services.

He added that no decision on a council tax increase has been made at this stage.

19/1/2023

Published The Herald on Line

www.heraldscotland.com/

Exclusive
Council leaders in direct plea to Sturgeon over budget worries
3 hrs ago

Exclusive by Tom Gordon
@htscotpol

THE leaders of all of Scotland’s councils, including SNP politicians, have signed a letter to Nicola Sturgeon warning of looming financial problems and job cuts.

With councils setting their budgets in the coming weeks, the 32 leaders told the First Minister they were “deeply concerned” by Scottish Government under-funding.

They warned the settlement would have a “detrimental impact on vital local services” and deny resources to communities already suffering with the cost-of-living crisis.

n addition, it would “lead to the loss of jobs”, both within local authorities and at local companies supplying them with goods and services.

Council leaders said they feared that wider economic problems meant they would face long-term demands to feed and shelter more people, and the Scottish Government's funding “will not allow us to do what we need and want to do”.

They have now asked John Swinney, the acting finance secretary, to attend a special summit “as a matter of urgency” to hear their concerns first-hand.

The letter, which was sent yesterday, was leaked to the Herald as Ms Sturgeon defended her Government’s budget for councils at FMQs. 

In the draft budget for 2023/24, Mr Swinney said councils would get around £550m more than the year before, and would have a free hand raising council tax.

But in their letter, the council leaders, around a third of them SNP, complain it is not enough.

They write: “We are deeply concerned about the impacts of the settlement that the Scottish Government has proposed for Local Government as part of this year’s Scottish Budget.

“Many in our communities are struggling with the impact of rocketing prices across fuel, food and other bills, and facing unprecedented levels of poverty in a modern era.

“This budget settlement will have a detrimental impact on vital local services, on our ability to focus the necessary resources and supports to our communities and on those who are already impacted by this cost-of-living crisis. 

“Significantly, it will lead to the loss of jobs, both within Local Authorities and within the local companies who supply goods and services to councils and are reliant on their contracts to employ local people.”

While acknowledging the impact of inflation, the UK Government’s mini-budget and global economic factors were affecting the Holyrood budget, the council bosses said the Scottish Government could still do more to achieve a true “partnership approach”. 

They said that of the £550m presented in parliament as additional funding only £38m was uncommitted, as the rest was earmarked for centrally-determined priorities.

This would go “no way towards meeting the identified budget gap in council funding of £612m due to inflation, energy prices and demand pressures”, and another £400m likely to be needed for pay deals in the coming year and staffing measures to avoid strikes.

They conclude: “In going forward, we are concerned about the demands placed upon Local Government and, while we acknowledge the benefits that arise from Local Government having local intelligence about our communities, part of that relationship involves stepping in to provide vital supports, including feeding our residents and keeping them warm and safe.

“We fear that the scale and scope of such demands will be significant and long lasting, and we recognise that the financial settlement, as it currently stands, will not allow us to do what we need and want to do.”

Mr Swinney said: “The Scottish Government recognises the crucial role councils and their employees play in our communities across Scotland and the challenging financial circumstances they face.

“The Scottish Government’s settlements from the UK Government have suffered a decade of austerity with average real terms cuts of over 5 per cent, equating to a loss of £18 billion.

“Despite this, we have listened to councils and are increasing the resources available to local government by over £570 million, a real terms increase of £160.6 million or 1.3% compared to the 2022-23 budget.

“We want to work with local government, to building on the Covid Recovery Strategy and agree an urgent approach which improves delivery of sustainable public services."