It’s time to put our differences aside

Oct 24 2008 by Cheryl McEvoy, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

POLITICIANS must set aside party politics and concentrate on doing their best for the people who elected them.

That’s the view of council leader Hugh Hunter, who spoke out after MSP Cathy Jamieson said that South Ayrshire Council is facing a massive financial crisis.

He claims that the council are prepared to make the £7 million in savings required as a result of the planned settlement from the Scottish Government next year.

And the Tory leader insists that he’s working with the UK government to try and recover the £5 million in council cash tied up in the failed Icelandic bank Landsbanki.

Ms Jamieson voiced her concerns after an Audit Scotland report was released in the same week that it was revealed that South Ayrshire had cash in the failed bank.

The MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley said: “This is a very worrying time for staff arising from pressure to make savings on top of those already achieved when we have been seeing cuts in services in school transport, toilets and voluntary sector funding.

“There is also extra pressure from the Scottish Government who wants councils to do more and more without any extra cash.”

Ms Jamieson added: “I am aware that South Ayrshire Council has said that it can meet the costs of this service.

“But with a potential £12 million black hole there will be huge pressure on other services, with COSLA leaders themselves saying they are facing exceptional funding pressures.”

However, Mr Hunter sees it differently.

He said: “South Ayrshire Council’s 2008/09 budget contained projections which identified that efficiency savings would be required of £7 million for the next financial year 2009/10 and £1.7 million for the following year 2010/11.

“These projections were referred to by Audit Scotland in their recent report.

“Since that budget was approved in February the cross-party Budget Working Group has been scrutinising the operation of all departments to identify where efficiencies can be made to address these funding gaps and construct a budget for 2009/10.”

Councillor Hunter added: “COSLA, the Scottish Government, the Westminster government and the treasury are working together to protect the interests of local authorities such as South Ayrshire and it is disappointing that Labour politicians have considerably less faith in the Labour Chancellor than we do to properly and robustly represent the interests of the people of South Ayrshire in his discussions with the Icelandic authorities.

“With regards to free school meals, this is a good policy which will be popular with parents of young children.

“Introducing free school meals is part of the concordat between COSLA and the Scottish Government, funding has been included in the financial settlement for 2010/11 and we expect to honour our commitment and implement the policy in August 2010.

“Now is a time for politicians of all parties to put our political differences aside and work together to do the best we can for the people we represent.”