Protests over funding shortfall

DUMFRIES and Galloway Council will write to the Scottish Government in protest over a shortage of funding which councillors believe poses a serious threat to council services. This year’s local government financial settlement from Holyrood does not account for an £8.7 million deficit in the IJB budget for providing health and social care services – which means the council will have to pick up this hefty tab. The Scottish Government announced that an extra £253m has been provided this year to support councils in balancing the books, however elected members argue that this cash is needed to be spent elsewhere on areas, such as a staff pay increases.

Meanwhile, leaders at council collective body COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) have argued that an additional £750 million in funding is required for health and social care alone. The council’s financial nightmare was discussed at the enabling and customer services committee last week, when Lochar Councillor Linda Dorward, deputy leader of the Labour Group, said: “There’s no money in that £253 million envelope for social care – unless we forego any agreed pay awards. We will not be doing that, especially not for our lowest paid staff. “So, whilst I suspect we can technically bridge the IJB budget gap using monies from the draft overall budget settlement, my question is: what further cuts would we have to make to our revenue expenditure which already under severe strain? “What cuts do we have to make to fill in that gap that £8.7 million gap? Because we can’t do it from the budget settlement we have from the SNP Government.” Paul Garrett, the council’s finance chief, confirmed the council will have to pick up the tab for a lack of available funding for health and social care - but warned this poses a “real risk” to council services in the future years. He said: “We’re working very hard with colleagues in the IJB to reduce that (£8.7 million deficit) and bring that closer to budget by the end of the year. “Good progress is being made, but you’re right: there will be a material overspend at the end of the year that will come back to be met by the council.” Annandale North Councillor Carolyne Wilson, leader of the Labour Group, tabled a motion for the council to write a letter to the Scottish Government demanding “better funding to enable councils to deliver vital services.” Council leader Stephen Thompson, leader of the SNP Group, said: “I’ve certainly written a number of letters on behalf of this council and I’ve represented the council at COSLA (the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) in terms of health and social care funding. “The COSLA lobbying position in terms of additional money for health and social care – and even though there was an uplift – is that it wasn’t what COSLA asked for. “So, I think we have to acknowledge that.” He added: “I’m happy to continue to lobby in that respect on behalf of the council. There’s no shortage of letters coming out of my outbox seemingly at the moment – and that’s fine.” Councillors agreed that the chairman of the committee would write the letter to the Scottish Government expressing discontent about this year’s local government budget settlement.