A controversial Glasgow City Council budget was passed today in order to plug a £49m hole in finances.
Put forward by City treasurer Ricky Bell, the budget was designed to balance the books for 2023/24, against a backdrop of more than £400million of cuts in the last decade.
Glasgow Labour group walked out of Glasgow City Chambers ahead of the budget to stand in solidarity with union groups protesting the cuts. They were later joined by Conservative and Green councillors following their statements.
READ MORE: Glasgow budget passed with council tax to rise by 5% as opposition parties walk out over cuts
The budget plans were all passed unopposed. Cllr Bell criticised opposition groups who did not present alternative proposals.
These are the key points that will affect Glaswegians when today's budget it implemented.
Council tax rises by 5%
Cllr Bell confirmed that council tax will rise by 5% for 2023/24 in a bid to close the gap in funds.
This will see Band D households pay £1,499 in order to bring in an extra £12million.
The council will also take £6m from reserves.
Education
While Cllr Bell confirmed that teacher numbers would be protected, a number of other cost-cutting measures were put forward.
These included increased nursery fees, a reduction in education support staff as well as staffing levels across educational psychological services.
There will also be a "review of resources" - excluding teachers and support learning workers - to save more than £3million.
No compulsory redundancies
Cllr Bell confirmed there would be no compulsory redundancies as part of the budget, saying that an increase in charges was "preferable to slashing services".
Public facility opening hours reduced
A number of public facilities will have their opening hours slashed, including Tramway and the Mitchell Library, where hours will be reduced from 60 hours per week to 54.
Swimming pools will also face a reduction in their opening hours.
Fees and fines to be increased
Parking and bus lane enforcement fines will be increased with around £3million expected to be made through the measures.
On-street parking will also rise “in line with Edinburgh levels”. There will be a cost increase for multiple residential parking permits and almost £1million saved through a review of cleansing services resources.
£2million will also be raised from the introduction of brown bin permits.
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