A number of South Lanarkshire councillors have criticised the recent Scottish budget, despite receiving a 4.5 per cent increase in funding.
The budget for 2022-2023 was announced on December 9 and outlined funding for the nation.
It gives an overall funding package of £12.5 billion to local authorities, which represents a 4.5 per cent increase for councils.
However, councillors from South Lanarkshire have called the budget out and scrutinised the amount of funding allocated to local authorities.
Rutherglen representative and South Lanarkshire Liberal Democrat group leader, Robert Brown, said: “The SNP Government has had the largest ever block grant this year from the UK Treasury but, according to estimates by COSLA, the local government body, the money passed on to councils amounts to a £100m cut to councils’ core settlement even before account is taken of pay and inflation pressures.
“At a time when council services – like sports facilities, libraries, halls, schools and elderly care – are more important than ever before with Covid, this is a budget which is quite rightly described by COSLA as one that “barely allows local government to survive.”
Councillor Brown’s opinion was echoed by Joe Fagan, leader of South Lanarkshire's Labour group.
Councillor Fagan said: “The SNP Government has yet again imposed real-terms cuts on council budgets and that is utterly unforgivable.
“Local services have been diminished, the council workforce has been stretched to breaking point and communities all around us are in decline.
“This budget should have started the process of restoring council funding and rebuilding our communities. Instead, it will mean continued cuts and hardship.”
Councillor Alex Allison, leader of the local Conservative group also expressed his concern with the budget.
He said: “The Conservative group is extremely disappointed in the funding we are receiving.
"The block grant from the UK government is the largest it has ever been, yet this is not being passed on to local governments and will lead to pressures on services.
“Lack of support for local government and the taxation policies of the SNP government make us the highest taxed area of the United Kingdom with the poorest support for local services, such as the care of our older people and education.
“We urge the Government to pass on the money they have from the block grant to support constituents in these difficult times.”
Explaining the budget, finance secretary Kate Forbes, said: “The 2022-2023 Budget addresses our key priorities, targets resources for low income households and paves the way for future investment over the life of this Parliament. It is a budget of choices.
“My last two budgets have been shaped by our experiences of Covid but we are now lifting our eyes to the future. This is a transitional Budget, as people, businesses and services get back on their feet.
“This budget focuses on tackling the climate emergency, reducing inequalities and supporting economic recovery. It is the first budget of this partnership in government and has been developed in cooperation with the Scottish Green Party, delivering on commitments made as part of the Bute House Agreement. I welcome their support and their constructive challenge.”
The SNP group at South Lanarkshire were contacted for comment.