THE SNP MUST PASS ON £150 MILLION COUNCIL FUNDING IN FULL

Thanks to the UK Government, councils across Scotland are due to receive around £155million as a result of extra council spending in England.

But instead of promising to send the cash on, the SNP advised councils to raid their own savings, despite Audit Scotland repeatedly warning that many local authorities were running on empty.

South Lanarkshire Council is under severe financial pressure after years of SNP cuts with only £117.9million in useable reserves. The SNP must ensure that South Lanarkshire is given all the money it is due as a of matter of urgency.

Scottish Conservative Councillor for Clydesdale East, Alex Allison said:

 “Councils across the country have been struggling to meet the demands of this virus and will continue to struggle as demand on health and social care services grow and greater supplies of personal protective equipment are required.

“In Parliament this week, Kate Forbes referred to the row concerning £155 million in Barnett consequentials as being merely a 'storm in a teacup'.

“Telling South Lanarkshire Council to raid already depleted reserves is nothing but a slap in the face when there are millions of pounds on the way from the UK Government.

“Local authorities across Scotland are spearheading the response to this virus, South Lanarkshire Council should not have to go begging to the SNP for funds.

“Now the SNP must ensure that communities in South Lanarkshire are not left behind.”

ENDS