North Lanarkshire has imposed a council tax rise of three per cent and is spending £13 million on cost of living and Covid recovery projects in the year ahead after setting its 2022-2023 budget.
Council leader Jim Logue described the plans – including £475,000 for pensioners’ energy bills, a further £500,000 for community crisis grants, plus £2 million each for sports pitches and for mandatory 20mph limits at schools – by saying: “This budget is on the side of residents.”
He outlined the administration’s budget as covering the three priority areas of supporting young people in the post-pandemic period, environmental investment and the rising cost of living, which he said “will affect every resident in North Lanarkshire, particularly the most vulnerable”.
Labour’s budget proposal was passed at a three-hour virtual meeting of North Lanarkshire members after gaining more support than both the SNP and Conservative groups’ amended alternative financial plans.
The three per cent council tax rise was agreed by both the Labour and SNP groups; while the Conservatives had proposed a smaller two per cent rise, which was then to have been covered in full for 12 months by a rebate scheme for householders.
With the “below inflation” tax rise generating sufficient funds to balance the authority’s books for the year by plugging the remaining £3.1m of an original £19m budget gap, members were able to allocate an additional £13m of combined one-off Scottish Government and council funding for projects in the year ahead.
Pensioners on low incomes are to receive £100 towards increased electricity and gas costs, with nearly £1.3m being allocated to various support funds in what finance convener Bob Burrows called a “cost of living budget”.
He said: “We recognise this crisis will hit every resident in North Lanarkshire – it’s the number one issue on the doorstep.”
The council will also supplement the money available through the Scottish welfare fund for crisis grants, and continue its school and nursery clothing and footwear grants for the year ahead.
New synthetic pitches are to be created at Moodiesburn, Cleland, Harthill and Mossend and others upgraded and a further £1m will be spent on the area’s leisure and culture facilities.
There will be free sport and leisure provision for care-experienced young people and free gym memberships for all 11- to 15-year-olds, plus the extension of the £50 leisure pass scheme to all those aged over 60.
Signs and road safety improvements will be put in place to ensure the 20mph speed limit around all schools and early learning centres; and £1.5m will go on improvements to cemeteries plus paths and accessibility at country parks and other green spaces.
The sum of £1m has been allocated to continuing the environmental improvements programme begun last year which included action on fly tipping – with Councillor Burrows stating: “We’re investing in a greener futures fund which will give cemeteries the respect they deserve and continue free pest control.”
North Lanarkshire is allocating a further £1m to continue the work of the previous Scottish attainment challenge for a further year; will assign one per cent of the council tax rise to community investment priorities; and has also allocated £150,000 for events marking the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
The authority’s £887m budget includes funding of more than £20m for social care, allocated to the area’s Integrated Joint Board; plus £5m for its post-Covid “tackling insecurity” and “flexible” funds.
Councillor Logue told the online meeting: “We’re fully aware of cost of living pressures, and this is one of the most comprehensive cost of living packages this council has ever embraced.
“In terms of environmental obligations, as the council heads towards net zero, it’s important that country parks and spaces are looked after and we’re investing in four new 4G football pitches in areas where there has hitherto been little investment in facilities.
“We look to the future of children and young people; as we emerge from the pandemic and face the cost of living crisis, we must make sure they are equipped for the world of tomorrow. Too much time has already been taken from them.”
He added: “Our priority has been supporting people and communities and I believe this budget does that, while ensuring that our bold ambition and vision for North Lanarkshire continue to be funded.
“Key to North Lanarkshire’s recovery from Covid is a real appetite for healthier lifestyles and use of outdoor spaces.
“Ours is one of the fastest-growing local economies, and this budget reinforces our approach.”
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