North Lanarkshire Council finance boss urges Scottish Government for more cash ahead of budget

dailyrecord.co.uk:

With the forthcoming North Lanarkshire Council budget on the horizon, the local authority’s financial chief has called on the Scottish Government to utilise their powers at Holyrood to shield councils from further cuts.As North Lanarkshire Council prepares to set its budget, the SNP-controlled Scottish Government remains in a position to exercise significant influence over the financial decisions that affect local communities.NLC finance convener Andrew Duffy-Lawson said that the recent UK Government’s first budget resulted in record investment in the Scottish Government and increased financial support, seeing an additional £1.5 billion this current financial year and £3.4 billion in the upcoming financial year.The budget included a substantial payment to the Scottish Government, representing the largest payment made since devolution began, as well as a pay increase for the lowest-paid workers.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Councillor Duffy-Lawson said: ‘We would expect the SNP, as the dominant force in Scottish politics, to seize this opportunity to bring about meaningful change.

With the tools at their disposal, they have the power to ensure that North Lanarkshire Council, along with other local authorities, can continue to deliver essential services without the burden of cuts.“The SNP should