An SNP councillor believes the administration’s decision to halve ward discretionary budgets across the north will reduce the effectiveness of partner contributions for local projects.
Last week, councillors agreed on a budget which will involve cutting this year’s ward budget grant funding from £31,789 to £16,000 for each of Highland Council’s 21 wards.
Black Isle councillor Craig Fraser said all £33,240 from his 2017-18 ward budget has been allocated to local projects and events, gaining partner contributions of £157,150.
And he highlighted an exceptional year in 2014-15 when a discretionary budget summary for six wards – Black Isle, Dingwall and Seaforth, Wester Ross Strathpeffer and Lochalsh, Caol and Mallaig, Fort William and Ardnamurchan and Skye – showed total budget spending of £339,817 with partner contributions of £3.108 million – a ratio of nine to one.
Mr Fraser believes partnerships between councillors, community councillors and outside groups will erode with only half the money available.
He said: “The reduction of the ward discretionary budget impacts our rural communities, most especially those communities that have no access to wind farm contributions or access to common good funds. Add in the draconian cut to community council funding of 53% and our rural communities will be severely disadvantaged and I foresee community councils folding.
“This reduction of the ward discretionary budgets also goes against localism and community empowerment and also risks rural discrimination and isolation.”
Cromarty Firth councillor Maxine Smith (SNP) said the cut to her ward budget will threaten projects in Invergordon more than in other parts of her ward, as the Easter Ross port town is not served by windfarm contributions.
She said hopes have likely been dashed for various projects and events this year such as the revival of Invergordon’s community bonfire.
Ms Smith added: “I think it’s so short-sighted of the administration to do this. It will potentially pit councillors against each other.”
However, budget leader Alister Mackinnon said that the administration will look at the possibility of changing policy to allow ward budgets to be more fairly divided among communities within these wards.
He added: “I fully accept as budget leader there will be difficulties. The reality is that we have to make some very difficult decisions which are put before us because of lack of money from the Scottish Government.
“Would people want a cut of 50% on the community council grant (and ward budget) or do they want us to cut out fixing potholes? It’s a sharp divide.
“I would just remind these councillors – and the SNP group – that they could not come up with any other proposals. Their proposal was to delay the revenue budget.”
