Councillor Siobhan Paterson gives her speech in support of the Falkirk Labour budget amendment.
”In my role as shadow education portfolio holder, as an employee of children and family social work and as a mother I have grave concerns about the SNP’s willingness to accept the freeze knowing the dire position of
Falkirk’s finances. No information has been provided to say what the cuts in children’s services really mean. If there were obvious savings to be made, they would have been taken by now. The reality is that children’s services are already cut to the bone before the SNP take
another £600k. There are currently 7,000 children in Falkirk living in poverty. If there was £600k that could be utilised better, I’m sure that children’s services have a number of areas where that money could be reinvested.
The reality of the proposed cuts means losing services that provide a lifeline for our most vulnerable families. Whilst ‘preventative work’ may not be a legal requirement, make no mistake, these services are vital in the prevention of traumatic life experiences and may go some way to ensuring positive outcomes for those who
rely on them. This is clearly reflected in equality and poverty impact assessment which outlines that if we don’t engage in preventative work, problems escalate and families end up requiring more intensive support from services.
It’s not just children’s services at risk with this SNP budget. Slashes to school budgets are being proposed at a time when we’re advised that schools need
significant investment. Falkirk Labour want to raise vital funds to invest in the future of our young people. Labour’s budget will see the essential funding allocated to schools. This isn’t a frivolous spend, it’s vital investment for the future.
Although it’s somewhat reassuring that the SNP hope to potentially earmark funds to Braes and Denny for sports provision. It is interesting that Boness was not included in the motion given the recent impact on the community following the SNP and Tory decision to close the rec centre.
In 2019, this council acknowledged that we are living through a climate crisis. In the 5 years since, not enough action has been taken to prevent nor protect against the impact of
climate change. This report states that we are at high risk of not meeting our Net Zero targets due to “insufficient
capital funding” If we are serious about mitigating the impacts of climate change, we can’t wait another year. Investment is needed now. The £250k proposed in Labours budget will see tangible progress being made flood prevention as well as supporting community facilities to transition to green energy. These projects that will protect residents now, and in the future.
None of us want to increase council tax for our residents. In an ideal scenario the SNP government would have fully funded this freeze, but they haven’t. Accepting the freeze means approving a budget which will see a marked decline of services in our area. Amongst these cuts, we’re being asked to sell off the education and wellbeing of our young people whilst simultaneously running head first into the climate crisis.
SNP claim that the council tax freeze protects the poorest in our community but it’s quite the opposite. Cuts in education and social care are a political choice. Today, Labour’s budget is taking national politics out of decision making and putting the best interests of our residents
at the forefront.”