Lothian MSP claims Scottish Government funding delay is 'slap in the face' to hard-working council staff

THE Scottish Government’s delay in passing on cash from Westminster to local authorities is a “slap in the face” for council staff working flat out to maintain services during the lockdown, Tory MSP Gordon Lindhurst has claimed.

He urged ministers to urgently pass on to Edinburgh City Council the funding received from Westminster under the Barnett formula.

He said: “Our council staff are continuing to work flat out in order to deliver vital support to businesses and individuals and have been on the front-line in tackling the effects of the Covid-19 outbreak.

“They should be being supported by the SNP Government, but instead funding is not being passed on in full and councils are told they can dip into their reserves.

“That is a real slap in the face for officials and does nothing to help those businesses who are still seeking urgent support and those individuals who require vital welfare support.”

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has promised the full £155 million Scotland has received because of extra cash for councils in England will be handed to councils but said she was waiting to hear from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities before allocating it.

Earlier this week, Lothian Labour MSP Sarah Boyack accused Ms Forbes of “micro-managing” local budgets and said councils were “increasingly unhappy with the lack of support they’ve received”.

But Ms Forbes hit back, saying: “This appears to me as a storm in a teacup. My letter made clear I was awaiting confirmation of funding from local authorities in terms of their need, that was an agreed position with Cosla. I’ve agreed we will pass on that funding in full, but Cosla should inform how that money is allocated, not members in this chamber.”