Fife Council Budget: Lib Dems unveil proposals with ‘fairness at heart'
Fife Council’s Liberal Democrat group says its budget proposals would offer the opportunity for change with fairness at its heart.
It has put forward its views on how Fife Council should spend its money ahead of next week’s budget setting meeting which will take place on Thursday.
Along with its Labour and SNP counterparts, the Lib Dems have put forward a five per cent council tax increase to plug a £3.626m budget gap.
The proposals, which have been put forward by group leader, Councillor James Calder, aim to present a “positive vision” for the people of Fife.
He stated: “This budget is one that will promote education, the environment and the values of inclusion. We will take steps to support our schools, our health and social care, our roads and to deal with the effects of the climate emergency.”
The plans would see an additional £5.5m of funding set aside for the Health and Social Care Partnership.
A total of £105,000 has been allocated for a pilot scheme which would see young carer leads in each of the Fife high schools while £250,000 would be spent on recruitment and retention of school pupil support assistants. A recurring £305,000 has also been set aside towards school swimming which would be spent on providing universal assessment of swimming abilities and an intervention to support those who need help.
The Lib Dems have also committed an extra £5.9m for the new swimming pool in Inverkeithing while £232,000 would be spent on river level alert systems.
There will be investment of £7.8m for key transportation projects as well as £500,000 road signs and line repainting.
A total of £700,000 will be shared among area committees to ensure some projects funded by the Community Recovery Fund, which has now ended, can continue.
Dunfermline, under the proposals, would benefit from £5m of funding after its Levelling Up funding did not come to fruition. Funding to tackle the effects of poverty, including £100,000 to help those who are digitally excluded, will also be included.
Cllr Calder said the budget would ensure they support the people of Fife where they need it.
“The Liberal Democrat proposal offers the opportunity for change with fairness at its heart,” he said. “Our health and social care funding will take care of people of all ages. Young Carers, who do so much, will be better supported too.
“We will fund our schools to ensure that violence is tackled, and the education and wellbeing of pupils are put first. We will tackle the impacts of man made climate change on Fife, including the significant flooding. We will also ensure funding to take care of our roads which so badly need repairs.
“Supporting the economy, and tackling poverty, will also be a priority.”