North Lanarkshire’s budget for the year ahead will now be set on March 2.
The authority’s crucial finance meeting – at which council tax rates for the year ahead will be determined, along with any cuts required to balance its books – has been moved back by five days from its original date in order to take place after the Scottish budget is finalised at Holyrood.
Council leader Jim Logue has said the council faces £57 million of cuts over the next three years, and accused the Scottish government of “holding councils to ransom” on local taxation after offering conditional funding to freeze rates for householders in the year ahead.
Figures from the Scottish government indicate that North Lanarkshire would receive £4.64m to freeze the current council tax rates, which would maintain Band D costs at £1221.25 for the 12 months ahead after successive rises in each of the past three years.
Alex Neil, the Airdrie & Shotts MSP, says a council tax freeze would “provide financial relief to thousands of local households during tough times” and is calling on North Lanarkshire to ensure it is put in place to qualify for its share of the assigned £90m Holyrood funding.
He said: “We all know the financial impact that this global pandemic has had, so it’s great news that the Scottish government has sought to provide relief to households by supporting local authorities to freeze council tax for the coming year.
“If North Lanarkshire Council chooses to do the right thing and freeze rates, they will be fully supported to the tune of £4.64m – it’s time they gave local residents that assurance.”
Councillor Logue told the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser: “It’s appalling that the SNP are holding councils to ransom on council tax; threatening to withdraw funding if authorities don’t do as the Scottish Government ask shows contempt for their democratic autonomy in delivering local services.
“The Scottish government budget once again fails to provide sufficient funding to maintain vital local services in our communities – the proposed settlement to all councils falls well short of the budget increase from Westminster.
“Yet again we will be faced with having to cut services or jobs to balance the books; every SNP councillor, MSP and MP in North Lanarkshire has a responsibility to join us in fighting for their constituents.”
