North Ayrshire’s Labour administration has 'refused to be bullied' by the SNP Government into accepting cuts of £9.2million from the council's revenue budget.
The SNP Government has received an extra £418million in their 2017/18 from UK, but Labour say the SNP are determined to cut £327m from vital public services. In North Ayrshire this means an extra £9.2m cut on top of last year’s £10m cut.
SNP Finance Secretary Derek Mackay demanded that all council leaders in Scotland accept his ‘offer’ by 20th January. He threatened if they did not accept, he would impose a “worse settlement”. The deadline has been set before MSPs have had the chance to properly scrutinise the draft budget and voted to set a final budget for 2017/18.
North Ayrshire Council leader Joe Cullinane has written to the Finance Secretary to make it clear that he will neither “accept nor reject” any ‘offer’ of cuts before the Scottish Parliament, and North Ayrshire Council, has been able to exercise its democratic mandate to scrutinise and set its budget.
Cllr. Cullinane has described it as “deeply arrogant” for Derek Mackay to try and push councils into accepting an “offer of cuts” before these negotiations have taken place.
Labour have warned that the impact of a £9.2million cut will be severe for public services and jobs whilst the SNP opposition group 'hailed' the budget.
The North Ayrshire council leader responded: “I have been clear that I will stand up for the people of North Ayrshire and fight for a fair funding deal on their behalf.
“It is about time that the SNP realised that the bully boy tactics that they employed will no longer work now that they are a minority administration - it is a political ploy to try and force through his cuts.
"I refuse to play his political games and will not accept any ‘offer’ which involves cuts to public services and jobs in North Ayrshire before the Scottish Parliament has exercised its democratic mandate to set its own budget.
“Any threat to impose further cuts on North Ayrshire as a result is not a threat made to me or the other 29 councillors – it is a threat made directly to the people of North Ayrshire. It would be a disgraceful move for any politician to do so, especially in these circumstances, and will be strongly opposed by administration.
“If the SNP hadn’t resigned from administration then they would be accepting these cuts without a fight. In fact they ‘hailed’ the offer of £9.2million of cuts as ‘progressive’. Just like the SNP led councils did at COSLA they would be putting the interests of their party before the interests of the people they are elected to represent. My administration will never do that and will continue to fight for a fair deal for our area.”