The South Lanarkshire Labour group is calling on the Scottish Government for fair funding as the council prepares to consult on potential budget savings.

South Lanarkshire Council is facing a budget crisis and is due to launch a fresh budget consultation after officials worked to reduce the notional budget gap faced by the authority by almost £30 million.

The Labour group is appealing to the government for adequate funding as Scottish local authorities wait to hear the fate of the government’s budget next month.

The budget is set to determine whether the proposed council tax freeze will be adequately funded and if plans for real-term cuts to council funding will go ahead.

The South Lanarkshire Labour group released a statement, which read: “The Scottish Government have cut council funding so councils have to cut local services. Many of the saving options South Lanarkshire Council now consults on will become a reality, unless the government reverses their funding cuts.

“Using monies released from adjustments to Strathclyde Pension Fund contributions and other measures, our council can reduce the budget gap faced over the next two years from £70 million to £40 million. We still have hard decisions to make.

“With council tax frozen, much more government funding will be needed to prevent further cuts. All eyes are on our MSPs. 80 per cent of our council’s funding comes from the Scottish Government and, after years of SNP funding cuts, local services desperately need a fairer share of Scotland’s Budget.

“The savings options South Lanarkshire Council consults on are tabled by non-aligned council officials. No political group has adopted any of these options yet. However, all councillors have a duty to set a balanced budget. We have to consider the worst case scenario, should the SNP Government continue to deny us the fair funding our communities need.”

In response, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “While Scotland is facing the most challenging budget settlement since devolution due to ongoing UK Government austerity, this year South Lanarkshire Council will receive £705.7 million to fund local services which equates to an extra £21.9 million on last year.

“Work is also ongoing with COSLA to establish a new fiscal framework for councils through the Verity House Agreement, a landmark agreement that is forging a stronger partnership between the Scottish Government and local councils through the spirit of collaboration and engagement.

“Decisions on local government budget allocations for future years are subject to the outcome of negotiations with COSLA, the results of which will be confirmed in future Scottish Budgets.”

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