Highland councillors voted overwhelmingly yesterday to demand a share of the Scottish Government’s 2017-18 underspend of £453m.
In an urgent motion raised by senior councillors at the last full council meeting before the summer recess, members voted to demand that all Highland MSPs support their call for a share of the underspend to ‘maintain services, mitigate and rephase’ some of the budget decisions scheduled for later this year.
Depute leader Alasdair Christie said: “Under the current formula Highland Council’s share of this money would be £21.3million, twice the amount of the savings we are being asked to make this year.
“It’s irresponsible to underspend by such an obscene amount, are they creating a slush fund?
“I call on our MSPs to publically commit to supporting us to get our share, including Kate Forbes, who is now a Scottish Government minister with a finance brief and ideally placed to help us.
“It’s time for them to speak up and show solidarity with us.”
He added: “We are in challenging times, it would be helpful if we had our fair share of this massive underspend to mitigate the dreadful decisions we’ve had to make like parking charges and toilet closures.”
Councillor Allan Henderson said his committee, Environment, Development and Infrastructure, could have used this money in a very positive way.
He said: “Surey there must be some mechanism to use this money. The money belongs to the people and they’d love to see it used on the roads.”
Council leader Margaret Davidson said £21million would make a huge difference.
She said: “Every local authority has been throttled for five years and it will be for the next five years.
“In Highland we’re now £172 per head less funded than we used to be. We’re not a government priority and that’s shocking.”
The motion was ridiculed by SNP members, including councillor Ian Cockburn. He said he was astounded at the motion and accused the councillors putting it forward as “making yourselves look stupid”.
Councillor Ron MacWilliam said: “I’m astounded that we’re wasting time talking about this imaginary money.
“The Administration should take a leaf out of the Scottish Government’s book and show sound husbandry of their resources.”
The councillors voted in favour of the motion by 45 to 20.