Taking budget case to parliaments
Inverclyde Council has been taking its budget case to representatives in the UK and Scottish parliaments.
For, Inverclyde Council’s cross-party members budget working group met with the local Member of Parliament Ronnie Cowan and members of the Scottish Parliament, Stuart McMillan, Neil Bibby and Maurice Corry.
Inverclyde Council leader, Councillor Stephen McCabe, has also written to the areas other constituency MSP and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution, Derek MacKay, MSP.
Now, the leader of the council will have face-to-face talks next week with the cabinet secretary to outline Inverclyde’s budget position.
Councillor McCabe said: “The UK Government’s continued austerity plays a significant factor on the resources allocated to Scotland. That’s why the council supported a trade union motion recently which called on an end to austerity and invited the chancellor and secretary of state for Scotland to Inverclyde to see its impact first hand.
“The Council receives 85 per cent of its funding from the Scottish Government and in the past two years has suffered a cash cut of £11m or 6.5 per cent.
“As our local representatives in the Scottish and UK parliaments, it is crucially important that our MP and MSPs are fully aware of the challenges being faced here in Inverclyde.
“I hope after hearing Inverclyde’s case, that our MP and MSPs are able to take that straight into the chambers of the UK and Scottish parliaments and join the call for a fair settlement for Inverclyde and local government."
Inverclyde Council has identified a budget gap of £13m and saving proposals which are planned to go out to public consultation in January after the national budget settlement proposal is known.