Scottish Conservative and Unionist Councillor Tom Marshall. Leader of the Conservative Group on North Ayrshire Council has slammed the SNP-Green Government for refusing to abandon their plans to hit North Ayrshire Council with devastating funding cuts.
Tom Marshall’s call comes after the Conservative party used one of their business slots in the Scottish Parliament to demand the SNP-Green coalition reverse their draft budget plans which would hit Scotland’s local authorities with a £371 million real-terms funding cut.
However, SNP and Green MSPs voted against the calls from the Scottish Conservatives.
Cllr Marshall says the SNP-Green coalition are passing the buck onto councils such as North Ayrshire Council and leaving them with an impossible choice between cutting local services or hitting people with Council Tax rises or in some cases with both.
Tom Marshall is also backing his party’s plans to enshrine in law a fair funding deal for councils.
That Bill would automatically guarantee Scottish Councils a set percentage of the Scottish Budget each year.
Cllr Marshall says voters in North Ayrshire will have a clear choice when it comes to voting in May’s council elections.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Councillor Cllr Marshall said:
“The SNP-Green Government have record funding from the UK Government at their disposal but are set to hammer council budgets yet again.
“The SNP have underfunded North Ayrshire Council for years and we simply cannot cope with more devastating cuts.
“Instead of backing the calls from my colleagues in the Scottish Parliament, SNP-Green Ministers are passing the buck to North Ayrshire Council. That will either mean crucial day-to-day services being lost or residents being hit with Council Tax rises.
“Enough is enough. That is why I’m pleased to back Scottish Conservative plans to enshrine a fair funding deal for councils in law, to give North Ayrshire Council assurances over their budgets every year.
“Voters in North Ayrshire Council face a stark choice in May’s council elections.
“They can either endorse cuts to local services by the SNP-Green Government or back a real alternative in the Scottish Conservatives, who are committed to a fair funding deal for councils in law.”
