Fife Council urged to reverse plans for cuts

Last month, Fife Council agreed a budget which would see cuts to services totalling £5.7m, however the Scottish Government budget which passed last week provides an additional £95m for Scotland’s local authorities.

MSP Mark Ruskell said the deal puts £6.5 million in Fife Council’s coffers and would be enough to reverse the cuts in the budget.

“Fife Council set its budget before the final funding deal was confirmed, but there’s nothing to stop them reviewing this decision now and taking cuts off the table,” said Mr Ruskell.

“Their plans to cut support for adults with additional needs, early years officers, and reviewing the school week do not need to go ahead now thanks to the additional money the Greens secured for councils.

“I hope the council will instigate a budget review at the earliest possible opportunity.”

However, Fife Council co-leader David Alexander said it was too early to be making changes.

“We’ll be making our decisions on March 26 at our Policy and Resources committee,” he said.

“ There is still the UK budget to come on March 11 and we don’t know if the estimates that the Scottish Government had to make, based on the Conservative manifesto, will be accurate.

“We need to wait till we get the full picture. It would help if the MSP stuck to his job and let us do ours.”