Local authority chiefs have warned of “massive” council tax rises if the Scottish Government blocks cuts to teacher numbers.
Umbrella group COSLA also claimed funding for libraries, leisure facilities and roads would be “decimated” if the classroom savings were closed off as an option.
Labour MSP Mark Griffin said: “The decision to maintain funding levels in education should not result in other areas of the budget being completely depleted.
“Asking taxpayers to pay for SNP Government cuts is not acceptable. The SNP must properly fund the services we all rely on.”
The SNP/Green Government and councils are engaged in an increasingly bitter row over how town halls should balance their budgets.
As revealed by the Record, Glasgow council drew up plans to shed 800 teaching jobs, a strategy proposed by other councils.
But First Minister Nicola Sturgeon intervened by saying the Government would block cuts to teacher numbers.
A letter by Education Cabinet Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, and obtained by the Record, laid down four red lines for councils.
She demanded teacher numbers are “at least maintained” at current levels in the year ahead, as well as expecting the number of pupil support assistants to remain the same.
She also wrote that places for probationers must remain available and insisted on “no reduction” in learning hours in the school week.
Another leaked document reveals the response of COSLA to the Government’s approach.
They noted that teachers account for around one third of the local government pay bill and warned of the consequences shielding this area:
“Devastating cuts in other areas of the budget. Councils may be forced into much higher Council Tax increases than would otherwise propose.”
It gave as an example proposals for £15m in savings planned for schools in one council and what would happen if these cuts could not be made:
“Brutal cuts in non-teaching areas and/or massive council tax increases.”
Local authorities have full flexibility for setting council tax rises next year, but acting Finance Secretary John Swinney said he hoped they would “consider carefully” the cost pressures facing the public.
The COSLA document continued: “Protections in education in recent years have meant cuts already fallen disproportionately on other council services –
libraries, culture and leisure, sports facilities, youth work, waste, roads, parks.”
“These areas all support the wider attainment and health and wellbeing of children, young people and families but will now be decimated as a result of these interventions.”
A COSLA meeting of council leaders agreed that they were “unable” to agree with Somerville’s demands, unless the “necessary resources” are provided.
A Ministerial statement on blocking teaching post cuts is imminent.
A COSLA Spokesperson said: “Following an emergency meeting of Leaders yesterday Council Leaders have agreed that COSLA approach the Scottish Government seeking urgent further discussions around their expectations for education. There was agreement that Scottish Government expectations cannot be met unless additional necessary resources are provided.
“Council Leaders re-emphasised their great disappointment with the approach taken by Scottish Government on this matter which is neither in the spirit of partnership working nor recognises councils’ legitimate authority to make decisions on the services they deliver on behalf of their local communities.”
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “The Scottish Government recognises the crucial role councils and their employees play in our communities. We have protected councils in the most challenging Budget since devolution to provide more than £13.2 billion in the 2023-24 Local Government Settlement.
“This represents a cash increase of over £570 million or 4.5%, which is a real terms rise of £160.6 million or 1.3%, to reflect the difficult budgetary decision they face at this time of year.
“The Scottish Government and Local Government are committed to working together to continue to raise attainment and close the poverty-related attainment gap in schools and we welcome the endorsement of this by Council Leaders today.
“As part of this, the Scottish Government is committed to recruiting more teachers. Indeed, we have provided additional resource to local authorities to do just that. Despite this, the latest teacher census showed a small decline in overall teacher numbers. Any further decrease would be wholly unacceptable – as would any reduction in the school week for children and young people.
“We will take steps to ensure that the funding we are providing to councils to maintain increased numbers of teachers delivers that outcome. Further detail will be set out to the Scottish Parliament in the coming days.”
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