| Council axes £17million to save frontline services |
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| Written by Kayleigh Mcleod | ||||||
 Cash-strapped South Lanarkshire Council is set to axe £17million and increase charges for public services in a desperate bid to balance the budget.However, the council managed to save a number of under-threat services and dull the blow by cutting £5million less than the original target figure of £22million. The swingeing cuts to local authority services will hit those in need of respite care harder than most with plans to increase the costs of the care by 25 per cent. Proposals include raising weekly charges for older people’s respite from £83.62 to £108.10 and implementing charges for residential and respite care for children. Brian Doig, co-ordinator of East Kilbride and District Dementia Care Group said: “For some people respite is crucial for continuing to stay at home, it can be the difference between staying at home and going into full time residential care.” Other cuts approved at Monday’s meeting of the council’s special executive committee include ending financial support for the East Kilbride Arts Centre Trust, South Lanarkshire Television and the primary school bulb competition. Prices for adult day care and out-of- school care are also set to rise. East Kilbride West Councillor Michael McCann, the depute leader of the council, said: “We have done our utmost to secure services for the public. This year the Scottish administration will receive the largest Scottish budget – close to £386million. We have to ask why they are making local authorities make these cuts when they have received so much money?” But Conservative Councillor Graham Simpson, who also represents East Kilbride West, countered: “These cuts have been brought about due to Labour’s mismanagement of the economy which has resulted in a massive cut in the budget. “I wish we weren’t in this position but we have to accept cuts and increased charges. There will be things in the budget that individuals won’t be happy with but tough decisions have had to be made.” It was initially anticipated that South Lanarkshire Council would have to find savings of £22million but following Monday’s meeting five million pounds worth of savings have been dropped from the overall 2010/2011 budget. The controversial plans to stop free access to leisure service for under 16s and over 60s and remove support for sport councils have been abandoned. A South Lanarkshire Council spokesman explained: “We are looking to make savings in areas that will have no impact on the old and young people of East Kilbride. “With the Children’s Games coming up in 2011, there is a drive to get young people involved in sport without incurring costs. “Older people have already made their contribution to society so we believe we shouldn’t do away with things that they benefit from.” Proposals to axe meals-on-wheels services, Christmas trees in the town centre and increasing charges for school meals were also scrapped. East Kilbride West SNP Councillor David Watson said: “It’s been a tough but we’ve tried to work together. It is a knock-on effect of the recession and of decisions taken at Westminster which have filtered down. Our priority is to maintain frontline services for South Lanarkshire.” Councillors unanimously approved the savings package designed to protect frontline services at Monday’s Executive Committee meeting. Council Leader Eddie McAvoy said: “We have looked long and hard at the way we deliver services, and the best way forward with a tight budget. “This package achieves a balanced budget in South Lanarkshire and allows us to move forward to meet our priorities.”
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