South Ayrshire Council funding - rise or fall?

Dec 11 2009 by Edwin Lawrence, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

WHEN is a rise a huge cut?

When you’re talking politics it seems.

For SNP MSP Adam Ingram says he’s delighted South Ayrshire Council is getting more cash from the Scottish Government.

But Tory council leader, Councillor Hugh Hunter, has portrayed it as a huge cut.

So who’s telling the truth?

Perhaps both of them.

Mr Ingram says: “Total funding for South Ayrshire Council has increased from £225.017m in 2009-10 to £228.420min 2010-11.

“By working in partnership with local councils and providing the funding for a third successive council tax freeze, we are easing the financial strain on local households feeling the effects of these tough economic times.”

Mr Ingram says the increase would have been even greater, if not for a £500m cut in the Scottish budget from Westminster.

And he admits to sympathising with councils who are struggling to provide services.

But he adds: “The Scottish Government will continue to do all it can to protect and improve services the people in Scotland need and deserve.”

But Mr Hunter has this year insisted that £9m of the £16m South Ayrshire has to trim from its budget is due to ‘a huge cut in the council’s budget settlement from the Scottish Government over the next two years’.

And he explained that this is still posing a major problem for the council.

He said: “It is certainly the case that this council has seen a modest increase on last year’s financial settlement, but what the minister has unfortunately not made clear is that the budget awarded to South Ayrshire Council by the Scottish government is £3.8 million less than we had initially been led to expect and had been encouraged to budget for.

“Clearly this shortfall between the budget we were told we would get and the budget we have actually been allocated will place still further pressure on us.

“But we will continue to make every effort to conserve and develop local public services, even in the face of this further significant financial squeeze.”