Thurs 10 February 2011
"Don't handcuff our councils" says UNISON Scotland
UNISON Scotland says Government moves to dictate how council
budgets are spent is effectively 'handcuffing' local authorities
and sounds the death knell for democracy.
Today, in the Scottish Parliament, MSPs will be debating the
Local Government Finance Order which will determine the budget
allocation for councils in Scotland for the financial year 2011-2012.
In November's draft budget, the Government presented councils
with a Hobson's choice: deliver key SNP policies, such as freezing
the council tax and maintaining police numbers, or face an even
bigger cut in your budget allocation.
The Government claimed that councils who signed up to the 'package'
of Government priorities would face a cut of 2.6 per cent, while
councils who did not would face a cut of 6.4 per cent.
UNISON has branded the move a veiled attempt to turn local
government into the administrative arm of central government
and is urging councils to set a needs-based budget based on
local need, not government dictat.
Trade unionists, community groups and members of the public
will be lobbying council meetings across Scotland today to urge
their elected members to put the needs of their communities
first when setting their budgets.
Mike Kirby, UNISON's Scottish Secretary, said: "To let the
government dictate how council funds are spent is absolute madness
and sounds the death knell for democracy.
"Democracy is the defining difference between public and private
services and it is vital local authorities are able to allocate
funds based on the local needs of their communities, not political
ideology.
"This move by the Government is an attempt to handcuff our
councils and our elected officials need to stand up for their
communities and set a needs-based budget that protects our public
services."
ENDS
Notes to editors
· UNISON has consistently challenged the need for cuts which
it says are based on politics, not economics. The union has
also condemned a continued council tax freeze as it prevents
councils from raising vital funds and at the same time provides
a real-terms tax cut to the wealthiest homeowners at the expense
of vital services.
· UNISON has branded the Government's demands to recruit 1,000
extra police officers a "cosmetic political exercise". Giving
priority to maintaining police numbers in a declining police
budget simply means that large numbers of police (civilian)
staffs will be cut. This will mean fewer police on our streets
as they are taken off normal duties to perform administrative
and specialist tasks they are not qualified to do at a greater
financial cost to the public.
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