Contemporary Resolution No 3
submitted by
UNISON Scotland

This conference views with concern the Local Government funding settlement announced by the Scottish Government and implemented in most Scottish Councils by 19th February 2009. Conference welcomes the decision to drop the hugely flawed Local Income Tax proposal. However, the financial settlement for Scotland’s local councils will lead to real cuts in public services this year, with even more damaging threats for next year.

Council budgets are under pressure from the settlement for a number of reasons:

• Money from the Scottish Government has been ring-fenced to pay for the Council Tax freeze.
• The budget deal with the Tories to cut business rates mean less money for local councils.
  
• Income to councils is dropping due to the economic downturn.
  
• The demand for public services is growing and the Scottish Government has placed further demands on councils.

Conference believes that previous funding allocations have already caused jobs and services to be cut back over the last two years. Vacancies have been left unfilled, facilities closed and support to the voluntary sector cut back. Increased pressure on services impacts on quality, longer waiting times, and increased risk of corner-cutting and mistakes.

Conference recognises that properly funded public services are vital to boost the economy and support employment in the current economic downturn. Local councils are facing increasing demand as people turn to their public services to help them cope with the effects of the global downturn. This should be a time to invest in local public services, not cut them back.

Conference calls on the SEC to mount a campaign to increase funding to local councils and promote local services to ensure they are available for the increasing number of people who are likely to depend on them’.