Cuts to West Lothian’s schools will be “front and centre” of budget savings, making up more than £5m of the total needed for the next three years.
And the council is asking if people are prepared to pay more council tax to protect vital services such as education and social care.
This week Independent councillor Stuart Borrowman warned: “Labour needs to demonstrate how these cuts will impact on school pupils and on the workload of teachers and other school staff.”
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West Lothian Council has launched a public consultation on a range of budget measures that aim to reduce spending, alter local services and address the council’s budget gap for the next five years of more than £47m.
The council faces a budget gap of £47.1 million between 2023 and 2028. The budget gap is caused by increasing costs and a rising population, combined with insufficient levels of government grant funding.
Cuts are detailed across the range of services, but education is hit by far the hardest.
Councillor Borrowman said: “The Council's proposed budget plans will put funding cuts for schools front-and-centre of their plans. There will be direct cuts totalling well into seven figures for schools’ devolved funding.
“Also, the council says it will shorten the school day. They won’t. They’ll leave the length of the school day alone but will reduce the amount of learning and teaching within each day.
“The aim is clearly to reduce the number of teachers. The minority Labour administration needs to demonstrate how these cuts will impact on school pupils and on the workload of teachers and other school staff.”
The crucial question covers council tax. The council has already said it needs to raise council tax by a minimum of 3.5% but there is the option to raise it further to cover additional costs it faces.
The council asks: “Would you support an increase of more than 3.5% if all funding raised above this was spent on key identified priorities, such as schools and social care?
The survey goes on to point out West Lothian has the tenth lowest council tax level in Scotland and the current band D rate is £32 lower than the average rate across all Scottish councils and over £650 lower than the average rate across councils in England.
Although council tax is applied to all houses, not all households are eligible to pay council tax. Various council tax reductions, exemptions and discounts are available to reduce the tax burden for the most vulnerable in society and to protect low income households. Most properties in West Lothian (75%) are in the lowest council tax bands of A to D.
Once the public consultation closes, councillors will have a chance to consider public feedback and make a final decision on the measures in early 2023, when the budget for 2023/24 is set and the Council Tax level is agreed. The consultation is open until 20 November.
West Lothian Council’s Chief Executive, Graham Hope said: “Like all councils in Scotland, West Lothian Council faces constrained government funding and substantial cost increases over the next five years.
“This means the council, along with the local community, will have to make difficult decisions about local services.
“To date, by planning ahead and sound financial management, the council has delivered a balanced budget – something we are legally required to do – despite some extremely challenging times.
“However, it is clear that further changes to local services are inevitable given the scale of the challenges we face over the next five years.
“We also understand that local people and businesses face difficulties from the cost of living increases. The council will face many of the same pressures from the cost of living, such as increases in food and energy bills.
“We want to work with you – our community and partners - in shaping the future of local services in West Lothian. Your feedback will help us become more sustainable, address the future funding gap and meet the challenges ahead.
“Your views are extremely important and will help to shape the future of local services. ”
Those wishing to take part can access the survey at www.westlothian.gov.uk/wl2028
The deadline is Sunday 20 November and all residents, businesses and council staff are being encouraged to take part.
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