Council tax has been frozen, Christmas lights are being reinstated and reductions to leisure and grit bins are being reversed after North Lanarkshire agreed a “Covid recovery” budget for 2021-22.
It will also see nearly £4 million invested in adult social care; and the introduction of a new clothing and footwear grant for early years youngsters, as well as an increase to the equivalent funding currently available for school pupils.
Money was also allocated to address pest control issues following increased concerns from residents, while there are funds for pothole repairs and roads, environmental improvements including a tree-planting scheme for schoolchildren, and addressing anti-social behaviour.
The latter plus funding to reinstate festive lights in town centres for the next two years were added into the Labour administration’s budget following a late agreement with the Conservative group, incorporating two of their priorities in return for the support of its members.
Council leader Jim Logue welcomed this year’s additional funding from both the Scottish and UK governments – but warned that the authority faces making £57m of cuts in the next three years up to 2025.
He described this year’s financial statement as “a budget like no other”, saying: “Last year, I moved the budget with no inclination as to what was about to hit us.
“I’m determined that this is a Covid recovery budget, to address ongoing issues and support a return to a new form of normality in the post-pandemic environment. Our communities have been ravaged by this virus and it’s vital we stand ready to help.”
Householders will see council tax frozen for the first time in three years after the Scottish Government provided funding to cover the equivalent of a three per cent rise, meaning the area’s Band D rate will remain at £1221.15 per year.
The Airdrie Central councillor said the unanimous decision “will be widely welcomed,” but added: “I do have some concerns that this may lead to greater rises in future unless the government baselines this funding .”
The council’s investment in “vital social care” is matched by a similar sum of £3.8m from Holyrood, and aims to “support people to live healthy, safe and independent lives.”
Councillors were in the unusual position of having £8m available to invest on budget day, after having addressed this year’s projected budget gap by agreeing savings last year for 2021-22 and then identifying an extra £10m in base budget adjustments; as well as receiving an extra £6m in government funds.
North Lanarkshire’s first budget-day surplus since 2010 meant culture and leisure facilities were awarded recurring funding of £3.7m to “recognise [their] key role in recovery from Covid-19 [and] ensure no facility closures as a result of reduction in funding in 2021-22”, with councillors requesting “a full review of provision once the longer-term impact of the pandemic is known and understood”.
The joint budget motion was agreed by 36 votes to 30, with three abstentions. It saw the Christmas lighting and anti-social behaviour funding added at the expense of some money originally allocated to road improvements, but did not incorporate the Conservative group’s other budget priority of reversing community alarm charges.
SNP members criticised the composite budget deal reached by the other two groups after a break for party discussions during the online meeting.
Coatbridge North member Allan Stubbs said: “It never ceases to amaze that we have months of budget discussions and remarkably Labour and the Tories manage to find agreement in a half-hour recess done virtually.
“There were a lot of similarities between the Labour and SNP budgets, but there’s no desire from them to work with the SNP for the good of the people of North Lanarkshire – the tail is wagging the dog.”
Party business manager Paul Di Mascio, of Airdrie South, agreed: “It’s a Labour/Tory budget motion again. The people of North Lanarkshire have seen this movie before and are sick of it.”
Councillor Logue responded: “No group on this council has a majority, so you have to do deals to achieve anything,” while Conservative leader Meghan Gallacher said: “We secured funding to tackle growing problems – despite this budget having some of their proposals in it, the SNP decided as usual to play party politics.”
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