"Taking funding away from councils is taking council services away from communities. We are appealing to communities to get involved with us in trying to save council services.”
Councillor Gary Mulvaney, Policy Lead for Finance Services, appealed to communities to engage with their parliamentarians about the importance of funding the services that matter to them.
Councillor Mulvaney said:
“We’ve – unfortunately – been talking for years about budget gaps and difficult decisions to make. We’ve taken different steps to stretch resources as far as they’ll go.
But the tens of millions of pounds Argyll and Bute’s lost already for its council services, the millions more forecast over the next five years, and escalating costs, mean we now have to focus on what council services we can save.”
The council’s had to make £64 million pounds of savings over the past twelve years, with another £33 million forecast as needed in the next five years.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Robin Currie said:
“Councillors from across the council’s political spectrum are working together to make the resources we have work best for Argyll and Bute.
And nationally we will continue campaigning through CoSLA, for fair funding for council services. The more people back local government, the more chance there will be of making that happen.”
Councillor Jim Lynch, Leader of the largest opposition group in the council, said:
“Council services support all aspects of life in Argyll and Bute. Councillors are working together to find ways to deliver as much support as possible in what are tough times for everyone.”
Parliamentarian contacts:
Scottish Parliament:www.parliament.scot/msps
UK Parliament:Contact information for Brendan O'Hara - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament