BUDGET HANDS WEST LOTHIAN COUNCIL FUNDING BOOST OF £8.8M

BUDGET HANDS WEST LOTHIAN COUNCIL FUNDING BOOST OF £8.8M

Almond Valley MSP Angela Constance has backed draft budget proposals that commit £353.3M for West Lothian in 2021/22.

 

   

 

Scotland’s Finance Secretary Kate Forbes announced this week that the SNP Government will hand West Lothian Council an additional £8.8M on last year’s spending – an increase of 2.6%.  The plans will provide the Council with an increase in day-to-day revenue spending.

 

£90 million has also been set aside to scrap rises in Council Tax and compensate local authorities who had planned to increase charges by up to 3% - allowing hard-pressed householders to keep more of their money to spend on other essentials.

 

Across Scotland, councils are set to receive £11.6 billion with £259 million added in one-off funding to support ongoing COVID-19 pressures on local services.

 

Welcoming the announcement, Ms Constance said:

 

“In these uncertain and challenging times, the Scottish Government has offered stability with a budget that protects vital local services and supports our economy.

 

“Local council workers have been working around the clock during this pandemic to keep West Lothian moving and ensure essential services continue to operate.

 

“So I welcome the fact West Lothian Council is set to receive a funding boost of an additional £8.8m for the coming financial year.

 

“In these tough times, I know that local residents will also be delighted that the Scottish Government has taken the significant step of supporting local authorities to introduce a freeze on Council Tax bills.

 

I will be backing these draft budget proposals to secure this cash for West Lothian " 

ENDS

 

Notes:

 

 

 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE 2021-22: TOTAL REVENUE SUPPORT Local Authority 2020-21 2021-22 Change Change.   £m £m £m % Aberdeen City 364.6 376.0 11.4 3.1 Aberdeenshire 460.2 479.2 19.0 4.1 Angus 220.2 226.9 6.7 3.1 Argyll & Bute 208.8 213.3 4.6 2.2 Clackmannanshire 103.0 105.7 2.7 2.6 Dumfries & Galloway 306.8 314.6 7.9 2.6 Dundee City 320.1 327.7 7.7 2.4 East Ayrshire 249.9 256.9 7.0 2.8 East Dunbartonshire 202.1 208.0 5.9 2.9 East Lothian Latest News Back to All Press Releases It’s easy to get in touch www.angelaconstance.scot 01506 460403 angela.constance.msp@parliament.scot Unit 4, Ochil House, Beveridge Square, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 6QF Sign up for my newsletter * indicates required Email * First Name Last Name