Council chiefs have ditched high-profile plans for Aberdeen to become the UK’s City of Culture.
Proposals to set aside £500,000 each year to prepare for the 2025 bid had been mooted in Labour’s election manifesto last February.
But at yesterday’s budget meeting, the ruling Aberdeen Labour, Conservative and independent group decided to scrap the idea – instead pledging £250,000 for a Unesco Culture bid.
The authority needs to make £125million of savings over the next five years.
Administration leaders say that this year they have been forced to make £22million of cuts due to the Scottish Government funding settlement.
A 3% rise in council tax is predicted to boost coffers by about £3.3million, while Aberdeen International Youth Festival will be cut by £65,000.
But administration leaders also put forward a £40,000 drive to tackle period poverty, £100,000 for mental health in schools, £10million for roadworks over five years and £80,000 for the alive@five parking scheme where motorists will be able to park in the city centre for just £1 after 5pm.
The opposition SNP group presented plans to implement a business rates relief scheme for fish processors and an extra £100,000 to tackle homelessness among others.
The Liberal Democrats wanted £12.5million for roads and £130,000 for more winter maintenance equipment.
SNP group leader Stephen Flynn said that the administration was comprised of “three shades of Tory” and rounded on his rivals.
He said: “We didn’t have a manifesto commitment for the City of Culture but some in this chamber did.
“Would it be a surprise to anyone that they’ve already broken promises?”
Liberal Democrat Martin Greig said: “The administration has an unusually poor record on culture.
“They put forward weak and superficial bids to make Aberdeen a city of culture.”
But this was rejected by council culture spokeswoman Marie Boulton, who said that the authority had sought advice from the “cultural network” in the city before deciding on the cut.
She added: “They want to go for the Unesco project and we are listening to them.”
Council co-leader Douglas Lumsden said:”There is no sign of improvement of the financial constraints we work under- the expectation is it will worsen and we have to prepare for that.”
