Moray politicians on Holyrood budget's Council cash gap
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A SCOTTISH Government budget which could threaten Council jobs has sparked a political row in Moray.
Cosla, which represents Scottish local Councils, said the Scottish Government's 2023/24 budget ignored its "SOS" demand for an extra £1 billion of funding.
A leaked survey of Local Authorities claims that the huge funding shortfall could risk 7100 jobs.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead, Scottish Government minister for just transition, employment and fair work, supported the Scottish Government budget during a February 2 vote.
Douglas Ross, Conservative MP for Moray, said Mr Lochhead had to face "serious questions" about his choice to vote for the bill.
However, Mr Lochhead argued that Mr Ross had a "brass neck" for criticising him in the face of cuts by the Conservative government at Westminster.
He also argued that Mr Ross had previously voted for a 28 per cent cut to local government funding.
Mr Ross said: "Serious questions have to be asked as to why Richard Lochhead voted for the SNP-Green government budget this week.
“Richard Lochhead must show he cares about Moray, even if that means voting against his government.
"I have done that in the past and it is what our constituents expect.
"Ahead of this Budget being finalised, he should be lobbying John Swinney to guarantee that councils like Moray will get a fair funding deal."
He also questioned why Mr Lochhead chose to vote for the bill despite Councillor Shona Morrison (Fochabers Lhanbryde, SNP), who is also president of Cosla, having pushed for extra Scottish Government cash.
Mr Ross said: "He blatantly ignored warnings from his local SNP colleague Shona Morrison about what this budget will mean in reality for local councils like Moray.
“She warned that it could mean services being reduced, cut or stopped altogether."
In response, Mr Lochhead said: “The brass neck on Douglas Ross is astonishing.
"His Tory party have played fast and loose with the country’s finances and brought the UK economy to its knees, leaving public services strapped for cash and people in energy rich Moray paying sky high energy bills.
“Inflation – which has only been made worse by the actions of the UK Government – has wiped out £1.7bn from the Scottish Government’s budget.
"Despite pleas from Scottish Government Ministers, the Tory Government has failed to increase our budget in line with inflation and our Tory MP now wants Holyrood to deliver more with less.
“If that wasn’t bad enough, his own record speaks volumes, having previously voted to slash local government budgets by 28 per cent.
“Moray’s Tory MP is deliberately trying to pass the buck and to blame Holyrood for the damage caused by his party in Westminster.”
A question over the Budget's local government funding gap was also raised during Tuesday, February 2's full meeting of Moray Council.
Addressing Council leader Councillor Kathleen Robertson (Forres, Conservative), Councillor Sandy Keith (Elgin North, Labour) said: "I understand that all 32 Council leaders in Scotland, including yourself for Moray, have asked for £1 billion more for 23-24 from the Scottish Government.
"In fact, only £38 million new money is available.
"Moray's share of that £1 billion would have been around £18 or £20 million.
"The offer is completely inadequate to deal with the burden of austerity that has been shifted onto Councils over a sustained period of time.
"And it is deliberately biased against local government and bad for local communities.
"In a document that has been made available today, collectively across Scotland, 7100 jobs are at risk in local government as a consequence.
"Can I ask the Council leader: does she agree that the unilateral action by the Scottish Government to ignore the SOS from local government is an impediment to partnership working with the Scottish Government?"
Cllr Robertson said: "All leaders at COSLA have had issues with the settlement we have had from the Scottish Government.
"I know the resources spokespeople and the President herself have had regular meetings to try and find a solution, certainly over the flexibilities.
"I would agree that it is very disappointing that the settlement we got this year will not help us provide our services and guarantee jobs going forward.
"The letters that have been sent to the Scottish Government will reinforce that, out of the 32 local authorities, we are all in agreement about pressuring for an improved situation and an improved deal."
