Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Chair of the Finance, Procurement and Transformation Committee, Adam Wilson, has warned that further Scottish Government cuts to Dumfries and Galloway Council will have a devastating impact on services.
It comes as a report to the Council’s Finance, Procurement and Transformation Committee states that the Council’s Financial Strategy details a cumulative funding gap of £47 million. The report goes onto detail that this is the equivalent of 13% of the Council’s annual revenue budget or 25% of the Council’s annual staffing costs.
Dumfries and Galloway Council has already had to implement over £100 million worth of cuts to its budget since 2010/11.
Councillor Adam Wilson said, “Despite the Scottish Government imposing over £100 million worth of cuts on our Council since 2010, we face yet more cuts to vital local services.
It was recently revealed that the Chief Executive of the local NHS board losses sleep over the cuts he will have to make, and I know that exact feeling. With two thirds of Council spending going to education, social work and social care services it will be impossible to try and protect these areas against further damaging cuts. The Scottish Government might say education is their top priority but by cutting local government that funds almost the entirety of a schools budget and pays teachers wages they are cutting their own top priority.
In Dumfries and Galloway Council we have set up a Transformation Programme to consult with service users and staff on the services our Council delivers. But there is no mistaking that with cuts of £47 million over the next few years there is no way that the ambitions of our local communities can be met. With other local authorities forced to look at cutting services in their entirety, it will not be long until we are forced to do the same.
I will continue to campaign against these damaging cuts to our schools and local services. I didn’t stand for election only to have to implement cuts to our schools. I hope local MSPs of all parties will refuse to vote for further cuts to local services when the Scottish Parliament considers the Scottish Budget later this year.”
