Council tax will rise by 5%, garden waste permits are to be rolled out and parking and bus lanes fines increased, after a dramatic Glasgow City Council meeting saw a budget passed to plug a £49m budget gap.
City treasurer Ricky Bell, SNP, said the budget was “deeply imperfect” but is required in “the most turbulent economic and financial context most people can remember”.
And he criticised opposition groups, who didn’t present alternative proposals, saying the SNP did not “have the luxury of throwing our hands up and walking away”.
Labour councillors didn’t attend the meeting, instead gathering with protesters and trade unions outside the city chambers, where they were joined by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.
Labour leader George Redmond spoke to the crowds outside and said "enough is enough", adding that says Labour will stand up for Glasgow.
The decision led to criticism from the SNP however, with councillors tweeting pictures of the empty Labour benches, and claiming the move was "a dereliction of duty".
The Greens and Conservatives both left after making their speeches.
Cllr Bell said: “This is not the budget any of us would wish to deliver. But it is one which has gone a considerable distance to protect and maintain those services upon which our communities depend.”
He decided to raise council tax by 5% for 2023/24, meaning a Band D household will pay £1,499, to bring in an extra £12m. The council will also take £6m from reserves.
That left £31.3m to be found through savings and increased charges. There will be £3m raised through increased parking and bus lane fines and £2m is expected to be brought in through the introduction of charges for brown bin [garden and food waste] permits.
On-street parking fees will rise “in line with Edinburgh levels”, there will be a cost increase for multiple residential parking permits and almost £1m saved through a review of cleansing services resources.
Opening hours will be reduced at Tramway and the Mitchell Library as well as swimming pools, while hire charges will be rolled out at peak times at outdoor tennis venues.
Cllr Bell said there would be no compulsory redundancies, teacher numbers would be protected and increased charges were “preferable to slashing services”.
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