Fife Council budget meeting postponed for two weeks

Fife Council leader David Ross says he decided to call for the budget meeting to be put back after last-minutes changes were made to the Scottish Government's funding settlement for local authorities.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Feb 2016, 12:40 BST
Updated 5th Feb 2016, 12:42 BST
Council leader David Ross wants more time to consider the changes to the Scottish Government settlement.Council leader David Ross wants more time to consider the changes to the Scottish Government settlement.
Council leader David Ross wants more time to consider the changes to the Scottish Government settlement.

The meeting was originally scheduled for Thursday, February 11, but Fife Council will now meet on Thursday February 25, to set the budget for 2016/17.

Cllr Ross said: “On Tuesday I took the unprecedented step of asking the provost to postpone the council’s budget-setting meeting by two weeks until February 25.

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“I made this request in response to a letter from Finance Secretary John Swinney that I received on Monday. This letter outlined significant changes to the terms of the grant offer from the Scottish Government that could affect funding for health and social care, education and proposals for an ongoing council tax freeze.

“It will take time to work through the implications and I have written back to Mr Swinney asking to meet him to discuss our budget position on February 18 when he is due to visit Fife.

“In the meantime, we have extended the budget consultation period to Friday February 12 enable as many staff and the public to share their views.”

The public consultation on the Labour administration’s draft revenue budget is online at www.fifedirect.org.uk/letstalkchange

Related topics:David RossFife CouncilJohn SwinneyScottish GovernmentFifeLabour