Fresh analysis from the independent Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (SPICe), published today, shows that since 2013, Scottish Borders Council’s revenue budget has been slashed by £13m.
The Local Government Finance paper illustrates the extent to which the Scottish Government has decided to cut council budgets. While the Scottish Government’s own revenue budget fell by 1.8% since 2013, council’s revenue budgets were cut by more than 7%.
The analysis concludes that since 2013, SBC’s budget has fallen by 6%, and that this equates to a drop in £135 for each and every person.
Scottish Borders Council leader Shona Haslam has said the figures show what the council is up against, but repeated her promise that she would do all she can to protect frontline services in the Borders.
Shona Haslam said: “These figures really demonstrate the challenges we face in the Borders. The Council is being asked to do much more, with much less money to spend. A £13m cut in our day to day budget means we are having to make some tough decisions.
“We didn’t hear a peep out of the SNP when they ran the council about these cuts. Instead of criticising the current administration, perhaps they should tell Borderers why they stayed quiet when their budget was being slashed by their own party in Holyrood.
“I’m determined to protect frontline services in Borders from SNP cuts. That is why we are prioritising the things that really matter to Borderers, like investing in our young people, bringing back community policing and fixing our roads after years of neglect.”
John Lamont MP added: “Councillors in the Borders are being given an almost impossible task with pressures on services going up, while their budget is being slashed. Under these circumstances, they are doing an excellent job, a year into the new administration.
“I’m pleased that Scottish Borders Council have been able to find funding for exactly the things people come to me to complain about – like potholes and anti-social behaviour.”