Senior opposition MSPs at Holyrood will be lobbied this week in an attempt to get a fairer funding deal for Moray.
The region is currently the least-funded rural council in the country per head of population – lagging behind only Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
The Scottish Government’s finance secretary, Derek Mackay, has already held talks with a cross-party delegation from Moray Council.
However, the minister has stressed that a new funding formula must be agreed by Cosla, which represents a group of local authorities.
And now, the leaders of the Scottish Conservatives at the Scottish Parliament will be lobbied in an attempt to open minds to the need for a new funding method.
Moray Council currently faces having to make £14million worth of savings from next year’s budget in order to balance the books.
Tim Eagle, leader of the council’s Conservative group, said: “Most will be aware that we receive 80% of our funding from Holyrood and, over the last 10 years, the poor financial settlement we have received has meant that severe cuts to services have been made.”
Mr Eagle, Moray MP Douglas Ross and Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston will meet Jackson Carlaw, acting leader of the Scottish Conservatives, and the party’s local government spokesman, Alexander Stewart, tomorrow.
