Plans by Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid to set the UK Government’s budget in mid-March have sparked concern at Argyll and Bute Council.
Council leader Aileen Morton also said that the decision to announce the budget at Westminster on March 11 – a fortnight after the authority is due to set its own spending plans for 2020/21 – “makes everyone’s job much harder”.
The council is currently due to set its budget for the coming financial year at a meeting of all its members on February 27.
However, fears have previously been voiced at the impact of the recent general election on that process, and further concerns have been prompted by the announcement by Mr Javid of the date of his budget statement.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) is writing to Mr Javid, while the Scottish Government’s finance secretary Derek Mackay said the budget date “could have profound consequences” for the funding of local services.
Cllr Morton said: “As the council starts to prepare for setting our budget at the end of February it is concerning to see this latest announcement of national government timescales as it introduces uncertainty and makes everyone’s job much harder.
“It is the Scottish Government that provide the majority of our funding so we really need to know as soon as possible when we will receive confirmation of our funding from April onwards.”
And Mr Mackay said: “This is really disrespectful to devolution, to Scotland’s parliament and people, in setting a UK budget so late.
“It shows the UK government hasn’t considered devolution, hasn’t considered our agreements or the impact on Scotland’s public services, not least local government. Those are profound consequences.”
Mr Javid said at Westminster this week: “In the election we’ve just had we talked time and time again about the need to unleash the entire UK, and of course that includes all of Scotland.
“Where Scotland has been let down time and time again is by the SNP government – which is giving Scottish people the highest taxes in the UK and the worst set of public services.”
COSLA’s resources spokesperson Gail MacGregor said: “By delaying the UK budget until mid-March, the UK Government is putting thousands of essential public services at risk of going without funding. COSLA is calling for the Scottish Government to do all it can to mitigate this risk.
“Local authorities carry out a complex and hugely important role in our society. As the employer for 10% of Scotland’s workforce and a procurer of over £6.3bn in goods we are the key economic driver for communities across the country.
“Any delay to our budgets means that these services are put at risk.
“The UK Government’s decision runs the risk of delaying the Scottish Government’s budget.
“This significantly impedes the ability for local authorities to formulate their own budgets meaning Scotland’s communities are disadvantaged.
“COSLA is calling on the UK Government to provide Scotland with an increased settlement so that the Scottish Government can provide councils with enough funding to deliver the vital services that our communities rely on.”
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