A BUDGET deal has been agreed between the SNP and Greens in Glasgow that will see a council tax rise of 7.5%.
The parties have decided on a budget that will see council tax payers pay more but it will increase staff for cleansing and provide free school meals for more pupils.
The council tax rise of 7.5% is the biggest in years and higher than last year but 2.5% of this increase will be ring-fenced for an extra 200 cleansing staff and for extra capital funding for repairs to roads, pavements and parks.
Talks have been ongoing between the parties ahead of the budget meeting at the City Chambers today.
Specific commitments in the budget are:
- £3m for universal free school meals for P6 pupils and £3m for next year's budget to extend it to P7.
- An additional £2.3m to recruit Neighbourhood Clean Teams for every ward in the city to deal with issues like fly -.
- There will be £1.5m for extra street scene cleansing staff and £1.4m to double the number of existing deep clean teams.
- And £20 million for the upkeep of roads, pavements and cycle lanes.
- There is an extra £4m for social work services in the HSCP.
- Half a million pounds will be spent on extending opening hours at swimming pools and libraries.
Ricky Bell, city treasurer and deputy leader of the council said: "This is a budget that responds to the priorities of Glaswegians, investing in frontline staff within essential services, in the fabric of our communities and in support of our communities and in support for families and households."
Jon Molyneux, Green Group co leader, said: "This is a joint budget on which the Greens have put our own stamp, whether that's by increasing the spending on social work services that our most vulnerable citizens rely on, by extending opening hours at swimming pools and libraries , or by investing more in climate action."
